Reconstrucción del cuero cabelludo después de una quemadura eléctrica de alto voltaje / Scalp Reconstruction after High-Voltage Electric Burn

Las quemaduras en el cuero cabelludo son raras. Cuando se producen suelen estar causadas por alta tensión eléctrica. La reconstrucción de los defectos del cuero cabelludo por quemaduras eléctricas se hace difícil, en parte por la extensión del defecto y la falta de determinados recursos. Se realizó una técnica con mínimo de secuelas. Se presenta un paciente masculino de 35 años, el cual llega al Cuerpo de Guardia de Caumatología por lesiones por quemaduras eléctricas de alto voltaje. Recibió el tratamiento médico quirúrgico correspondiente, injertos de piel, amputación del tercio distal del pie derecho y el 4to y 5to dedos del pie izquierdo. Solo quedó por resolver el defecto de tejido a nivel de cuero cabelludo. Se realizó rotación de un colgajo con lo cual se logró cubrir casi la totalidad del defecto, completando una pequeña zona con homoinjerto de piel. Se logró un resultado estético adecuado para el paciente con un nivel de satisfacción alto(AU)

Scalp burns are rare. When they occur, they are usually caused by high electrical voltage. The scalp reconstruction for defects caused by electrical burns is difficult, partly because of the defect area and the lack of certain resources. A technique was performed, with minimal sequelae. A 35-year-old male patient is presented with injuries due to high-voltage electricity burns, at the emergency room for caumatology attention. He received the corresponding surgical medical treatment, skin grafts, amputation of the distal third of the right foot and the fourth and fifth fingers of the left foot. Thus pending to solve the tissue defect at the level of the scalp. A flap rotation was performed, based on which almost the entire defect was covered, completing a small area with skin homograft. An adequate aesthetic result was achieved for the patient and with a high level of satisfaction(AU)

Reconstrucción del cuero cabelludo después de una quemadura eléctrica de alto voltaje / Scalp Reconstruction after High-Voltage Electric Burn

Las quemaduras en el cuero cabelludo son raras. Cuando se producen suelen estar causadas por alta tensión eléctrica. La reconstrucción de los defectos del cuero cabelludo por quemaduras eléctricas se hace difícil, en parte por la extensión del defecto y la falta de determinados recursos. Se realizó una técnica con mínimo de secuelas. Se presenta un paciente masculino de 35 años, el cual llega al Cuerpo de Guardia de Caumatología por lesiones por quemaduras eléctricas de alto voltaje. Recibió el tratamiento médico quirúrgico correspondiente, injertos de piel, amputación del tercio distal del pie derecho y el 4to y 5to dedos del pie izquierdo. Solo quedó por resolver el defecto de tejido a nivel de cuero cabelludo. Se realizó rotación de un colgajo con lo cual se logró cubrir casi la totalidad del defecto, completando una pequeña zona con homoinjerto de piel. Se logró un resultado estético adecuado para el paciente con un nivel de satisfacción alto(AU)

Scalp burns are rare. When they occur, they are usually caused by high electrical voltage. The scalp reconstruction for defects caused by electrical burns is difficult, partly because of the defect area and the lack of certain resources. A technique was performed, with minimal sequelae. A 35-year-old male patient is presented with injuries due to high-voltage electricity burns, at the emergency room for caumatology attention. He received the corresponding surgical medical treatment, skin grafts, amputation of the distal third of the right foot and the fourth and fifth fingers of the left foot. Thus pending to solve the tissue defect at the level of the scalp. A flap rotation was performed, based on which almost the entire defect was covered, completing a small area with skin homograft. An adequate aesthetic result was achieved for the patient and with a high level of satisfaction(AU)

Returning to work after electrical injuries: workers' perspectives and advice to others.

The objective of this study was to gain an understanding of workers' experiences with returning to work, the challenges they experienced, and the supports they found most beneficial when returning to work after a workplace electrical injury. Thirteen semistructured qualitative telephone interviews were conducted with individuals who experienced an electrical injury at the workplace. Participants were recruited from specialized burns rehabilitation programs in Ontario, Canada. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis used to analyze the qualitative interviews. Data regarding workers' demographics, injury events, and occupational categories were also gathered to characterize the sample.Participants identified three distinct categories of challenges: 1) physical, cognitive, and psychosocial impairments and their effects on their work performance; 2) feelings of guilt, blame, and responsibility for the injury; and 3) having to return to the workplace or worksite where the injury took place. The most beneficial supports identified by the injured workers included: 1) support from family, friends, and coworkers; and 2) the receipt of rehabilitation services specialized in electrical injury. The most common advice to others after electrical injuries included: 1) avoiding electrical injury; 2) feeling ready to return to work; 3) filing a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board injury/claims report;4) proactive self-advocacy; and 5) garnering the assistance of individuals who understood electrical injuries to advocate on their behalf. Immediate and persistent physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and support factors can affect individuals' abilities to successfully return to work after an electrical injury. Specialized services and advocacy were viewed as beneficial to successful return to work.

Kinematic comparison of myoelectric and body powered prostheses while performing common activities.

This study examined the kinematic differences of a bilateral transradial amputee using myoelectric and body-powered prostheses during select activities of daily living. First in harness suspended, body powered then self-suspended externally powered prostheses, the subject's shoulder and elbow joint movements were calculated and compared while completing an elbow range of motion test, simulated drinking from an empty cup, and opening a door. In this case, body-powered prostheses allowed for greater range of elbow flexion but required more shoulder flexion to complete the tasks that required continuous grasp. While using myoelectric prostheses, the user was able to compensate for limited elbow flexion by flexing the shoulder.

High-voltage electrical burn injuries: functional upper extremity assessment.

High-voltage electric injuries have many manifestations, and an important complication is the damage of the central/peripheral nervous system. The purpose of this work was to assess the upper limb dysfunction in patients injured by high-voltage current. The evaluation consisted of analysis of patients' records, cutaneous-sensibility threshold, handgrip and pinch strength and a specific questionnaire about upper limb dysfunctions (DASH) in 18 subjects. All subjects were men; the average age at the time of the injury was 38 years. Of these, 72% changed job/retired after the injury. The current entrance was the hand in 94% and grounding in the lower limb in 78%. The average burned surface area (BSA) was 8.6%. The handgrip strength of the injured limb was reduced (p<0.05) and so also that of the three pinch types. The relationship between the handgrip strength and the DASH was statistically significant (p<0.001) as well as the relationship between the three pinch types (p

The island myocutaneous flap reconstruction in electrical burn injuries of severely traumatized cervical region.

Trauma patients with high-energy injuries often present with severe tissue damage that extends beyond the immediate zone of injury and require recruitment of vascularized and massive tissues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of the island myocutaneous flap for the reconstruction of the electrical burn injuries on the cervical region. We conducted a retrospective chart review on all trauma patients treated by the Department of Plastic Surgery at Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University who required a large amount of vascularized tissue for the reconstruction of the electrical burn injuries on the cervical region from July 1994 to June 2006. Of them, 23 patients underwent reconstruction of severe traumatic deformities and disfunction on the cervical region with 23 island myocutaneous flaps from adjacent regions. Of the 23 patients, 17 were male and 6 were female, with an average age of 38 years. Conservative surgery method for debriding necrotic tissues and three different types of island myocutaneous flaps, including pectoralis major island myocutaneous flap, latissimus dorsi island myocutaneous flap and trapezius island myocutaneous flap were used. The defect area ranged from 6 cm x 4 cm to 20 cm x 15 cm. The sizes of the dissected myocutaneous flap ranged from 8 cm x 6 cm to 35 cm x 15 cm. All the 23 cases acquired complete recovery. The secondary defect of donor areas had primary closure after being directly sutured or covered with skin grafts. Island myocutaneous flaps have distinctive advantages in treatment of electrical burn injuries on cervical region and it can obtain satisfactory functional and cosmetic outcomes.

Management of class IV skull burns using the bipedicled superficial temporal artery scalp flap.

Calvarial burns are extremely rare and pose a difficult challenge for both the burn and reconstructive surgeon. Reconstruction of these injuries is dependent on the depth of invasion and the amount of tissue loss. Fourth-degree burns include damage to the calvarium and the underlying dura and or cerebrum. Historically, these wounds have been treated conservatively. Two cases of electrical fourth-degree calvarial burns with large soft tissue defects as well as loss of calvarium and dura with cerebral herniation are presented. Each patient presented to Shriners Burn Hospital in a delayed fashion with infected wounds necessitating immediate intervention. Both patients were debrided and covered with a bipedicled superficial temporal artery scalp flap. The donor sites of each flap, as well as the remaining areas, were skin grafted. This flap provides immediate vascularized coverage in wounds that were unable to be treated conservatively. In the face of sepsis and other severe injuries where more complicated flaps are risky, this flap provides a reasonable and reliable method of calvarial coverage.

Electrical burns of the upper extremity in the pediatric population.

Electrical burns of the upper extremity, particularly high-voltage injuries, are becoming more prevalent in today's society and are often times devastating to the patients' appearance and functionality. The basic tenants of flame burn reconstruction apply to electrical injuries. Namely, a patient should undergo basic trauma resuscitation, decompression and debridement within a reasonable timeframe, and definitive closure as soon as possible. Reconstruction of the 3 main areas of injury (hand, elbow, and axilla) follows the basic reconstructive ladder from least invasive, that is, local wound revision, to most extensive, that is, free tissue transfers. Whereas the role of the surgeon continues to be the creation of ingenious techniques to deal with complications, the real treatment lies in education and prevention. This article will look to do a comprehensive review of electrical injuries to the upper extremity.

The contemporary management of electrical injuries: resuscitation, reconstruction, rehabilitation.

PURPOSE: Due to advances in resuscitation of patients with electrical injuries, new challenges in reconstruction and rehabilitation have emerged. This study is a comprehensive institutional review of a prospectively gathered database of patients with electrical injuries, from initial resuscitation through final impairment ratings. METHODS: A trauma registry was used to identify patients with electrical injuries. Procedures needed, their timing, final impairment ratings, and return to work were recorded. RESULTS: From 2000 through 2005, we managed 115 patients with electrical injuries. Mean follow-up was 352 days. The average patient age was 34.9 years. Eighty-five (73.9%) of these injuries were work-related. There were 2 mortalities (1.7%). Although average burn size was only 8%, patients suffered many complications acutely and chronically. Numerous surgical interventions were required during the resuscitative (within 48 hours), an early reconstructive and resurfacing (within 30 days), and a late reconstructive and rehabilitative phase. Mean final impairment rating was 11%. Average time to return to work was 101 days. CONCLUSIONS: Electrical injuries can produce significant morbidity despite relatively small burn sizes. Patients require early operative procedures for prevention of further injury. Timely reconstructive surgery may improve final function and return to productivity. Finally, continued reconstruction may ensure improved late outcomes. The plastic surgeon is essential to patients with electrical injuries through all phases of their care.

Quality of life and return to work following electrical burns.

To investigate the psychosocial outcomes following electrical burns, a cross-sectional survey of electrical burn patients was done using three outcome tools: the Burn Specific Health Scale brief version (BSHS-B), the Coping with Burns Questionnaire (CBQ), and the Pain Patient Profile (P3). Questionnaires were mailed to electrical burn patients discharged from an adult regional burn centre, and also distributed to attendants of an electrical utility conference in Toronto. Twenty-six of 88 patients who were discharged from the regional burn centre during the study period with updated residential information were contacted and 14 (54%) completed the questionnaires. Twenty questionnaires were also distributed at the conference and 8 (40%) were completed; leaving a total of 22 (48%) patients for the study. The average patient age was 44.0+/-11.7 years; 21 (96%) were men, and the average time from injury to survey completion was 5.3+/-4.9 years. Five (23%) of the 22 patients returned to the same work duties, 10 (45%) changed duties, and 7 (32%) did not return to work. BSHS-B scores were low for all patients. Participants with high voltage burns (>1000 V) had worse sexuality scores (p<0.05), while those with larger burns (>10% TBSA) had worse physical scores (p<0.05). Patients surveyed >5 years from injury showed improvement in physical scores. CBQ scores indicated that optimism was the most commonly used coping strategy. P3 showed significant levels of emotional distress in all patients, with anxiety being more common in high voltage injuries (p<0.05). The data suggests that electrical burn patients may have a limited ability to return to work and an overall poor quality of life. Emotional distress is the dominant feature influencing long-term outcome in these patients. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings.

Rehabilitation of burn injured patients following lightning and electrical trauma.

Electrical burn injuries are complicated because of damage to many structures including: blood vessels, muscles, nerves, tendons, bone and skin. Surgeons must confront many problems such as wound healing coverage, scarring, loss of nerve and tendons, progressive joint stiffness and amputation. The goals of burn therapists are to achieve wound healing, functional recovery, and good cosmetic results. Rehabilitation is both preventive and therapeutic and is a fundamental part of managing these patients. In this article, rehabilitation is discussed with emphasis on the following: pain management, wound coverage, positioning, splinting, and exercises (range-of-motion and ambulation). The treatment and prevention of hypertrophic scarring is evaluated. Finally, the use of engineering and assistive technologies for rehabilitation of the electrical burn injured patient is discussed. Successful management of electrical burn injured patients involves communication among the different burn specialists, such as surgeons, anesthesiologists, neurologists, nurses, and kinesitherapists; engineers from the garments/prostheses companies; psychologists; and the patient him/herself.

A patient with an electrical burn treated by modified bilateral hemipelvectomy and disarticulation of the right arm.

A 23-year-old Hispanic worker sustained an electrical injury to 45% of his body when a crane hit a power line. Amputations of both legs, with bilateral partial hemipelvectomies, were required. A disarticulation of the right arm at the shoulder was also preformed. Resection of necrotic bowel, debridement of 95% of the abdominal wall, and resection of the genitalia was eventually required, with later reconstruction of the abdominal wall. After wound healing was complete, the patient was fitted with Jobst garments. A customized bucket prosthesis with a temperature control, to allow sitting upright, was provided. An electric wheel chair and a myoelectronic prosthetic arm were supplied. Rehabilitation was begun early.

Complex regional pain syndrome (type I) after electrical injury: a case report of treatment with continuous epidural block.

A 26-year-old man presented with severe complex regional pain syndrome type I of the affected limb after a work-related electrical injury. He suffered causalgia-like pain with no electrodiagnostic evidence of nerve injury. Early steroid and analgesic regimens did not adequately relieve these symptoms. His symptoms were temporarily relieved several times with stellate ganglion blocks. The patient underwent a cervical epidural block with a local anesthetic as well as a narcotic agonist over a 4-day period, which resulted in prompt, remarkable pain relief. Vocational rehabilitation was instituted as the pain subsided.

Assistive devices in the rehabilitation on patients with electrical burns--three case reports.

Limb amputation is a devastating sequela in patients with high-voltage electrical injuries, which may result in permanent disability. It is vital for rehabilitation professionals to assist patients with amputations to maximize their residual function. This can be done using a myriad of therapeutic adaptation methods such as orthotics, prosthetics, and assistive devices so that an optimal performance in daily activities can be achieved. This article describes how 3 patients, after electrical trauma with various levels of amputation, benefited from customized assistive devices, which are simple but effective. Patients' functioning in self-care, home, and work activities was improved. This, in turn, led to an enhanced quality of life. In addition, guidelines for fabrication of assistive devices are formulated.