Combined use of free and pedicled skin flaps for the reconstruction of extremities in high voltage electrical injury

Free tissue transfer for burns reconstruction: A single-site experience

This study reviews free tissue transfer (FTT) surgery for both acute wound and reconstructive scar management of burn injuries at a UK burns unit over a 10-year period. Thirty eight patients underwent 46 FTTs, or free flaps, as part of their burn injury pathway. For the cohort of patients, there was one flap failure, which occurred for a secondary scar reconstruction. It is noted that FTT was successful for all seven acute or primary interventions. Anterolateral thigh flap was the most frequently performed (57%); followed by parascapular flaps (22%) of which 43% were pre-expanded. A method of pre-expansion for neck contractures and a novel technique of anchoring this flap to the pre-tracheal fascia are described here. This can provide the patient with good neck contouring by using the capsule to hitch the flap into a good position. It is clear that further work is required to study the prevention of hypertrophic scarring that can occur at the interface between flap and adjacent skin, where occurrence rate in this cohort was 17%. It is proposed that FTT now provides a viable solution both to the coverage of complex burn wounds and to the revision of scar contractures. Consensus over an FTT protocol for the primary management of open burn wounds is seen as the logical next step for this surgical intervention.

High-voltage electrical burn of the genitalia, perineum, and upper extremities: the importance of a multidisciplinary approach

High-voltage electrical burns on genitalia and perineal areas are very rare and only sporadic reports are available in the literature with often confusing diagnoses and inconspicuous treatment protocols. Although the surgical treatment of extremities lesions is well established and includes appropriate debridement, temporary wounds coverage, and final adequate soft-tissue reconstruction, management of genital lesions remains controversial and challenging. The authors present a rare case of severe high-voltage electrical injury with involvement of upper extremities and complex lesions localized to the genitalia and perineal region. Treatment required a multidisciplinary approach including the plastic surgery and the urologic and andrologic teams.