Successful treatment of a case of electrical burn with visceral injury and full-thickness loss of the abdominal wall

Burns. 2000 Sep;26(6):587-92. doi: 10.1016/s0305-4179(00)00033-4.

Abstract

A 13-year-old male received high-voltage electrical burns with a resultant large direct wound on the upper abdomen involving the full-thickness of the abdominal wall, including the peritoneum. Early debridement, exploratory laparotomy and temporary restoration of the excised abdominal wall with a fascial prosthesis were carried out at 6 h post-burn. The bilateral upper and right lower limbs were amputated on the 10th post-burn day. The patient developed a 4x4 cm duodenocutaneous fistula on the 28th post-burn day, but was free of peritonitis. After 5 months of the conservative treatment, the fistula closed, and the abdominal wall defect was reconstructed with a free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. One month later, the patient was discharged following an uneventful recovery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Muscles / injuries*
  • Abdominal Muscles / surgery*
  • Adolescent
  • Burns, Electric / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Remission Induction
  • Viscera / injuries*
  • Viscera / surgery*