title: [Repair of deep wound on the head due to high-voltage electrical burn].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the methods for repairing deep wound on the head due to high-voltage electrical burn (HEB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six patients with deep wounds on the head due to HEB were hospitalized from June 2002 to May 2012. They were all injured by high-voltage (voltage ranged from 380 V to 300 kV) electric current, involving head and several other parts over the body. The total burn area ranged from 1% to 75% TBSA, and the depth ranged from deep partial-thickness to full-thickness (including muscle or even bone). Scalp defect area ranged from 3 cm×2 cm to 20 cm×18 cm, and the maximum size of skull exposure was 12 cm×9 cm and the maximum size of skull defect was 7 cm×6 cm. The wounds of 26 patients were repaired with 7 local advance flaps, 4 bilateral rotation flaps, 18 local rotation flaps combined with thin split-thickness skin grafts in donor site, and 3 free anterolateral thigh flaps with vascular anastomosis. In four of the 26 patients, expander was used in the early stage after burn and 5 after wound healing (with thin split-thickness grafts).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All flaps and skin grafts survived, except for one flap which was complicated by wound infection, and it was healed after dressing and secondary suturing. The implanted expander expanded smoothly. Patients were followed up for 15 days to three years after surgery. Satisfactory results were obtained, and wounds of 15 patients were repaired completely.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deep wound on the head due to HEB should be repaired with suitable flap combined with skin graft in donor site, and implantation of expander according to the injury area and condition of patient.
authors: Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Chenzhou NO. 1 People's Hospital, Chenzhou, China.
authors: Xi-sheng
authors: XS
authors: Xu
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Chen
authors: Bo-tong
authors: BT
authors: Li
authors: Hai-yang
authors: HY
authors: Zhou
authors: Zheng-zheng
authors: ZZ
authors: Ma
authors: Yong-sheng
authors: YS
authors: Zhou
authors: Cai-sheng
authors: CS
authors: Ou
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Cheng
authors: Yun
authors: Y
authors: Huang
authors: Yong-cai
authors: YC
authors: Hu
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Yong-fei
authors: YF
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D055815:Young Adult