Incomplete avulsion to the forearm: after controlling bleeding, you should?

• A. Discard the avulsed flap
• B. Place the avulsed flap in a plastic bag
• C. Wrap the flap around the limb
• D. Replace the avulsed flap to its original position and cover it with a sterile dressing.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is preserving and positioning the tissue to maximize healing after an avulsion. When part of the skin is torn away but still partly attached, the best move after stopping the bleed is to gently return the flap to its normal place on the arm. Then cover the area with a sterile dressing to protect it from contamination and to help maintain a clean environment for healing. Replacing the flap helps keep the tissue alive by reestablishing its natural alignment and blood-flow pathways, which improves the chances of a good outcome.

Disposing of the flap would throw away tissue that might be saved and reattached. Placing it in a plastic bag is a transport step to preserve tissue, but it doesn’t address reattachment and wound coverage. Wrapping the flap around the limb can injure the tissue and distort the wound. The focus is on realigning the flap and protecting it with sterile coverage to support healing.