What Is a Crush Injury?

Squeeze refers to the compression of limbs or other parts of the body, causing muscle swelling and / or neurological disease in the affected body part. Relative to two objects acting on the body is squeezing, and heavy objects falling from the top are pressure. These two injuries often exist simultaneously, causing extensive damage to tissues and organs such as human soft tissues, blood vessels, nerves and bones. Crush injuries often damage the internal organs, causing stomach bleeding, rupture of the lungs, liver and spleen. A more serious crush injury is that a larger and heavier object squeezes the human body, causing extensive damage to human tissues and organs, such as crushing injuries of earthwork and stones.

Basic Information

English name

squeeze

Visiting department

Orthopedics, general surgery

Common locations

Limbs, internal organs, skull

Common causes

Machine or vehicle, explosion, landslide, stepping, etc.

Common symptoms

Gastric bleeding, ruptured lungs, liver, and spleen

Causes of crush injuries and common diseases

1. Violent crushing of hands, feet, masonry, doors and windows, machines or vehicles.

2. Explosive damage to the body.

3. The body collapse caused by various causes caused injuries.

4. Crowds and tramples cause injuries.

5. Common diseases

(1) Brain contusion and laceration: nausea, sensory disturbance, high fever, crush injury, decreased blood pressure, photophobia, hypotension, coma, etc.

(2) Replantation of broken fingers: crush injury, blood stasis, dehydration, edema, swelling of fingers (toes), stiff and painful fingers, etc.

(3) Colorectal injury: intestinal bleeding, intestinal perforation, nausea, pelvic injury, crush injury, abdominal pain, peritonitis, tenderness in the lateral abdominal wall or back waist, blood in the stool, subcutaneous emphysema, etc.

(4) Multiple intracranial hematomas: continuity of the skull, crush injury, coma, disturbance of consciousness, etc.

(5) Tibia and fibula fractures: cyanosis, crush injury, tibia pain, tibia tenderness, calf swelling and pain, gastrocnemius tear, swollen lateral ankle, swelling and deformation of the thigh.

Differential diagnosis of crush injury

Crush syndrome: It is often seen in crush injuries caused by violent compression of hands and feet by blunt objects such as bricks, stones, doors and windows, machines or vehicles; it can also be seen in crush injuries caused by explosive impact. A crush injury often damages the internal organs, causing stomach bleeding, rupture of the lungs, liver, and spleen. A more serious crush injury is a crushed injury of earthwork or stones. This injury often causes a series of pathological changes in the body and even causes renal failure, which is called "squeezing syndrome".

Crush injury check

There are no obvious wounds on the surface of the injured area, and there may be congestion, edema, and cyanosis. If the limbs are injured, the swelling of the injured area may gradually increase; less urine, palpitation, nausea, and even unconsciousness; crush injuries and internal organs may cause gastric bleeding, Hepatic and spleen rupture and bleeding, at this time vomiting, hemoptysis, and even shock.

Laboratory tests and imaging studies can help diagnose.

Crush injury treatment principles

1. Remove the squeeze factor as soon as possible.

2. Crush injuries to the hands and toes, the finger (toe) under the nail is black, you can immediately apply cold compresses with cold water to reduce bleeding and pain.

3. Suspected of visceral damage, you should closely observe the presence of shock precursors and call an ambulance for first aid.

4. Squeezing syndrome is gradually formed after the limb is buried, so it is necessary to observe it closely and send it to the hospital in time. Do not neglect the severity because there is no wound at the time of the injury.

5. During the transfer process, reduce limb movements. Regardless of fractures, fix them with splints and expose the limbs to the circulating air. Avoid massage and hot compresses.