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Review
. 2004 Spring;12(1):35-6.
doi: 10.1177/229255030401200109.

Treatment of electrical burns by single debridement followed by free-flap coverage: How important is timing?

Christopher J Thomson  1 , Duncan Ag Miles, John Beveridge, Peter S Chang
Affiliations
Review

Treatment of electrical burns by single debridement followed by free-flap coverage: How important is timing?

Christopher J Thomson et al. Can J Plast Surg. 2004 Spring.

Abstract
in English, French

Background: High-voltage electrical burns involving the extremities may cause marked loss of skin and subcutaneous tissue exposing underlying bone and tendon. Treatment of electrical burns has historically involved serial debridement with late wound closure. Success has been reported with the use of microvascular free-flap transfer within three days of injury.

Objective: Seven patients with severe high-voltage electrical burns are presented. The application and timing of microvascular free-flap coverage is discussed.

Results: Six of the seven patients achieved successful healing with the free flaps.

Conclusion: Delay of microvascular free-flap coverage beyond the previously published three-day protocol may not dramatically affect treatment success.

Historique: Des brûlures électriques de haute tension touchant les extrémités peuvent provoquer une perte marquée des tissus cutanés et sous-cutanés qui exposent l’os et le tendon sous-jacents. D’ordinaire, le traitement des brûlures électriques entraîne un débridement sériel et une fermeture tardive de la plaie. Le transfert microvasculaire d’un lambeau libre dans les trois jours suivant la brûlure peut assurer le succès.

Objectif: Sept patients présentant des brûlures électrique de haute tension sont présentés. L’application et le moment de la couverture par lambeau libre sont exposés.

Résultats: Les lambeaux libres ont guéri chez six des sept patients.

Conclusion: Le retard de la couverture microvasculaire par lambeau libre après le protocole limité à trois jours préconisé auparavant ne nuirait pas énormément au succès du traitement.

Keywords: Electrical burn; Free-flap; Single debridement; Surgical treatment.

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References

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    1. Godina M. Early microsurgical reconstruction of complex trauma of the extremities. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1986;78:285–92. - PubMed
    1. Jones NF, Lister G. Free skin and composite flaps. In: Green DP, editor. Green’s Operative Hand Surgery. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone; 1993. pp. 1159–200.

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