Managing the Toxic Chemical Release that Occurs During a Crush Injury

Conclusion
Remember, crush injuries are a different form of trauma that require a very different mindset and approach to patient care. Local physiologic deterioration can begin very quickly, but systemic effects aren’t seen until the external pressure on the extremity or body part is released.
The presentation of crush injuries can also be very clandestine, as in automobile accidents, due to local or central sensory neurological interruption and damage.
Therefore, it’s essential to insist upon earliest possible access to the patient to assess the possible/probable extent of any crush injury and prepare/monitor the patient before the external forces causing the injury are released. This is the only way to prevent the sudden and complete demise of the patient, something which can easily happen in this scenario.
References

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Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, editors: Rosen's emergency medicine: Concepts and clinical practice, 7th edition. Mosby/Elsevier: Philadelphia, p. 1655, 2010.
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Homsi E, Barreiro MF, Orlando JM,...

Source: JEMS Special Topics - October 22, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Andrew Parrish, MD, EMT-P Tags: Trauma Exclusive Articles Source Type: news