AI Article Synopsis
- The combination of xylazine and illicit fentanyl leads to serious soft tissue injuries, including deep tissue necrosis, due to its impact on tissue toxicity.
- Xylazine, although a non-opioid tranquilizer, enhances the euphoric effects of fentanyl, increasing the risk of abuse and dependence.
- The rise in xylazine-adulterated opioids, particularly in cities like Philadelphia, necessitates a multidisciplinary approach in managing the resulting wounds, emphasizing the roles of hand and reconstructive surgeons.
Article Abstract
The coadministration of xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer, with illicit fentanyl has led to severe soft tissue injuries, ranging from superficial irritation to deep tissue necrosis and even bone involvement, because of multifactorial tissue toxicity. Despite its non-opioid nature, xylazine enhances and prolongs the euphoric effects of fentanyl, exacerbating the potential for abuse. The pathogenesis of the tissue damage from xylazine is multifactorial but most akin to a burn from local tissue injury. With illicit opioids increasingly adulterated with xylazine, particularly in urban areas like Philadelphia, the prevalence of associated wounds, especially in the upper extremities, is anticipated to rise. Managing these wounds demands a multidisciplinary approach, with hand surgeons and reconstructive surgeons playing a central role. This review summarizes the historical context, pharmacodynamics, initial evaluation, wound categorization, algorithmic treatment, and expected outcomes of xylazine-associated wounds.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11456669 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsg.2024.05.003 | DOI Listing |
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