Ferreira‑Aparicio FE, Ornelas‑Flores MC

Language: Spanish
References: 10
Page: 231-235
PDF size: 333.50 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Electric burns are the most devastating thermal injuries. They are classified as low and high voltage injuries and more than 99% of the resistance to electricity is found on the skin. The reconstruction of electric burns on face and neck represents a great challenge and when they involve several tissues, the first reconstructive option is with free flaps. However, when conditions are not ideal and the primary objective is to restore integrity, regional flaps can be chosen. We present the case of a 19-year-old man with electrical burns due to high voltage in the neck, with a large skin defect in the neck. He underwent five surgical procedures including rotation-advancement of the scapular fasciocutaneous flap to cover the neck defect, preserving the shape, integrity and function of the neck. Three months after reconstruction the patient is in physical medicine unit with good function and without complications. The great vascular damage in electric burns makes it virtually impossible to opt for free flaps for early skin coverage. The scapular flap provides adequate tissue irrigation and its thickness is sufficient to cover deep structures of the neck, making it a very good treatment alternative, with less risk of loss of the flap due to vascular damage, as well as less morbidity in the defect area, which allows for maintaining the morphology and contour of the neck.

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