Thermal injuries in autogenous tissue breast reconstruction

Abstract

We report on four patients with partial and full thickness burns following autogenous tissue breast reconstruction. Three burns were confined to the flap and one burn involved the flap and rim of adjacent skin. Heat sources included a heating pad (n = 3) and sunlight through a bathing suit (n = 1). The injuries occurred from 6 days to 4 years following the reconstruction. The burns were the result of impaired thermoregulatory capacity of transplanted tissue. All wounds healed with local wound care or debridement and skin grafting.