This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Duncan, C Articles by Peart, F Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

High-tension electrical burns: special problems and their management

Department of Biomaterials, Dental School, St Chads Queensway, Birmingham, UK

P Aiyer

Department of Plastic Surgery, KEM Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India

F Peart

Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns, University Hospital NHS Trust, Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, UK

High tension burn injuries comprise 1% of admissions to burns units and have a high incidence of mortality or amputation of an extremity in patients who survive. A dichotomy regarding treatment rationale for high tension electrically injured patients exists and is supported by two separate views of the pathophysiology of the injury. One view contends that the full extent of the injury occurs at the time of injury and this concept is used to support a philosophy of early radical debridement and reconstruction. Another view is that an element of chronicity exists in wound development and that serial examinations and debridements may be required prior to definitive reconstruction. The treatment rationale presented by the authors is that the high complication rate associated with these injuries, including partial or complete flap failure, as well as the need to preserve vital tissue justifies a cautious reconstructive approach similar to that used in high velocity lower limb injuries with serial examinations and debridements taking place prior to definitive reconstruction. A historical overview and discussion of some of the unique features of high tension electrical injuries is presented and used to support the authors’ philosophy of management.

Key Words: High tension electrical injury • serial debridements • flap reconstruction • specialist burn care

Trauma, Vol. 3, No. 3, 181-185 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/146040860100300306


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?