Citation

Klein M, Szkrabko S, Rodríguez Martín J, Payaslian S. Medicina (Argentina) 2003; 63(6): 721-723.

Vernacular Title

Enfisema subcutaneo en mano y antebrazo por aire comprimido.

Affiliation

Servicio de Clínica Médica, Clínica Modelo, Lanús, Provincia de Buenos Aires. Argentina. mklein@intramed.net.ar

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Fundacion Revista Medicina (Buenos Aires))

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14719315

Abstract

Cutaneous injuries with crepitus suggest infections caused by gas forming organisms. The non infectious causes of subcutaneous emphysema are under recognized, and are usually of good prognosis. A 27 year old man presented a swollen hand and forearm. He had suffered a small puncture wound in a finger. He had cleaned and dried the area briefly with compressed air, developing a fast swelling of this hand and forearm. At examination, we found extended subcutaneous emphysema in a radiography and observed subcutaneous air in the hand and forearm; 48 hs later there was no evidence of subcutaneous air. The presence of subcutaneous emphysema is always worrisome and such cases must be considered in the differential diagnosis. The exposition of preexistent wounds to compressed air sources (high pressure pneumatic tools, scuba compressed air tubes, compressed air guns) identifies the cause and prevents unnecessary surgical interventions.

Language: es