title: Pedicled full-thickness abdominal flap combined with skin grafting for the reconstruction of anterior chest wall defect following major electrical burn.
abstract: Successful reconstruction of extensive anterior chest wall defect following major electrical burn represents a very challenging surgery. Herein we report the first case using pedicled full-thickness abdominal flap combined with skin grafting to treat this injury with severe infection and exposure of pericardium and ribs in a Chinese patient. Following the performance of chest debridement to remove necrotic and infected tissues and the injection of broad-spectrum antibiotics to reduce infection, a pedicled full-thickness abdominal flap was used to cover the exposed pericardium and ribs, and skin grafting from the right leg of the patient was done to cover the exposed vital tissues. The patient was followed up for a total of 3·5 years, and satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcomes were obtained without complications. This report provides an effective method for the surgeons who encounter similar cases where reconstruction of extensive anterior chest wall is required.
authors.affiliation: Burns and Plastic Reconstruction Unit, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Chun-Jing
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Xian
authors.forename: Jia-Ao
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000293:injuries*
keywords: Abdominal flap; Chest wall reconstruction; Electrical burn