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Case Reports
. 2020 Nov 17:27:12-16.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpra.2020.11.004. eCollection 2021 Mar.

King cobra bite - Can early decompression prevent digital amputation?

Rizwana Imran  1 , Qureish Vanat  1 , Omar Hausien  1 , Rajive Jose  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

King cobra bite - Can early decompression prevent digital amputation?

Rizwana Imran et al. JPRAS Open. .

Abstract

King cobra bites are extremely rare in the western world. These bites can be fatal due to the large volume of the venom injected. We report a case of digital ischaemia from a King cobra bite in a young man who was working in a zoo in Netherlands. He was protected from systemic envenomation as he was wearing a protective glove. However, his right index finger developed subsequent gangrene and he underwent a ray amputation. The current literature on the management of snake bites to hands is reviewed and the role of early decompression discussed.

Keywords: Digital osteofacial comparments; Finger decompression incision; King cobra bite; Snake bite.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Snake bite wound on the palmar aspect of the index finger.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Blistering and cellulitis on Day 2.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Digital ischemia and skin necrosis 3–4 days following snake bite.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Ischemic soft tissue follwoing 1st surgical debridement.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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