
An Abdominal Flap to Save the Right Forearm and the Hand, Following a High-voltage Electric Burn in a Child: A Case Report
Author(s) -
Sharad Khandelwal
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of clinical and diagnostic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2249-782X
pISSN - 0973-709X
DOI - 10.7860/jcdr/2013/5208.3166
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , scalp , forearm , skull
High - voltage electric burns are very rare in children. This is a report of a seven years old boy, who presented 20 days after severe burns following a contact with a high - voltage electric line during playing. He was treated for the above at another hospital and was referred for further management. His clinical examination revealed; exposed skull bones, a raw area over the right side of the chest wall and a raw area over the right upper limb, which completely exposed the distal radius and the ulnar bones. After properly explaining the purpose of the operation to his parents and getting their consent, the exposed skull bones were covered with multiple pedicle scalp flaps. A bipedicle abdominal flap was used to cover the exposed right forearm bones and a skin grafting was also provided to the chest wall wound at the same time. The abdominal flap was detached safely after three weeks. He withstood the above operations well and was discharged six weeks after the above operations. The bipedicle abdominal flap helped in saving his right forearm and hand and the reason for the publication of this case is its rarity in children.