[Degloving injury of the thorax and abdomen].

A 22-year-old man was caught between a truck and a wagon. His chest was torn apart from the sternum downward; both lungs and the heart were visible. The skin and mucosa were covered with oil from the truck. He was immediately treated with intubation, massive fluid infusion and--after stabilisation--surgery. Afterwards, two plastic surgeries were performed. On the 27th day he was dismissed from hospital. Except for a cicatrice on the upper chest, he is in his usual condition. He survived this massive injury because of immediate intubation at the scene of the accident. Fortunately, none of the inner organs had been damaged severely.