Deep burn of hand and forearm treated by abdominal wall flap A case report

Abstract

AIM: Post-traumatic hand and forearm defects always represent a challenge for reconstructive surgeons, especially when multiple structures are involved, because of a high rate of amputation.

MATERIAL OF STUDY: A 21 years old woman arrived to the E.R. with a complex crush-burn trauma of the upper limb caused by an accident with an industrial ironing machine, resulting in a ulnar bone fracture, ulnar artery laceration and a wide burn of the dorsum of the right forearm.

RESULT: We achieved toTAL limb salvage with coverage of the “nobles” structures of the forearm.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Different reconstructive methods have been used over time to treat these defects focusing the attention on both functional and cosmetic aspects. The abdominal pedicle flap was one of the achiest reconstructive methods for hand and forearm defects. In an era in which microsurgery takes the lion’s share, some basic procedure may be helpful, especially in certain cases. In this study the authors reported a case of a young woman with a complex trauma of the right arm resulting from an occupational accident.