Background: The hand and wrist are most often in contact with electrical currents and thus most vulnerable to severe electrical burns. The treatment of such severe injury via surgical intervention remains a big challenge because of the vast tissue necrosis and the segmental vascular injury. The flow-through lateral-thigh free flap has been used effectively to resurface these defects and to reconstruct segmental vascular defects.
Methods: Between January 2014 and June 2017, 11 male patients aged 19 to 53 years were admitted to the burn unit of our institution. Each presented with severe electrical burns to the wrist with long segmental vascular injury, and 2 cases suffered from electrical burn on both wrists. After radical debridement, the soft-tissue and segmental artery defects were rebuilt through the application of flow-through lateral-thigh free flap for 1 of the ulnar or radial artery injury (7/12). Ulnar artery defects were rebuilt through the application of flow-through lateral-thigh free flap, and radial artery revascularization was done using a greater saphenous vein graft for both ulnar and radial artery injuries (5/12). Vascular condition was closely monitored throughout the treatment period.
Results: Forearm amputation was performed in 1 case as a result of distal immediate necrosis postinjury. Successful limb salvage was achieved in the other 12 wrists. Infection beneath the flap occurred in 3 cases but resolved after debridement. Over the course of the 3- to 12-month follow-up period, the free flaps maintained good texture and sharpness, distal circulation of affected limb became well established, and the appearances of the donor sites were acceptable.
Conclusions: High-voltage electrical burns of the wrist are highly destructive, and sophisticated management of damage requires concomitant vascular reconstruction and soft-tissue coverage. The flow-through anterolateral-thigh flap is an optimal solution for this problem. Emphasis must be placed on the affected blood vessel throughout the treatment period.