Extensive chest wall tissue loss and its management by vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap

• Published in: Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 43 - 45
• Main Authors: Basu, Sandip, Bain, Jayanta, Chattopadhyay, Debarati, Majumdar, Bijay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-01-2017; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Case Report; debridement; Electric burn; rectus abdominis flap; Skin; rectus abdominis flap; Electric burn; debridement
• ISSN: 0971-9261; 1998-3891
• DOI: 10.4103/0971-9261.194621

Extensive electric burn around the chest in children is rare and this type of injury always poses a great challenge for its management. A 12-year-old male child with extensive electric burn of the chest wall was admitted to hospital. It was a neglected case of 9 days old burn; the young boy was in critical condition having systemic features of toxemia with widespread necrosis of the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and muscles along with exposed bones (ribs and sternum) with the risk of impending rupture of pleura through the exposed intercostal spaces. After initial resuscitation, a thorough debridement of all necrotic tissues was done. Thereafter, a superiorly based vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap was harvested to cover the exposed bones and intercostal spaces. The remaining raw areas were skin grafted. The child made an excellent recovery with good outcome.