Crush Injury & Other Acute Traumatic Ischemias

Acute traumatic ischemia occurs when an injury interrupts the blood flow to an extremity. Crush injuries are one of the more common types of acute traumatic ischemia, which typically are attributed to accidents involving vehicles, falls, or gunshot wounds, as the resulting wounds are often very severe. Once circulation is inhibited the damaged tissue stops receiving the necessary amount of oxygen, increasing the risk of edema, anoxia, and tissue damage. In turn, the lack of oxygenated blood affects the body's ability to fight bacteria, new cell proliferation, and collagen disposition; as well as increases infection risk and slows recovery. Serious crush injuries can result in infection, non-healing fractures, and amputations, if not treated promptly and effectively.