Archives of Plastic Surgery

Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (대한성형외과학회)
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Study of Loss of Free Flap and Safer Timing of the Operation in Electrical Injury

전기화상에서 시행한 유리피판의 소실과 재건시기에 대한 연구

  • Chung, Eui Young (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • Lee, Jong Wook (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • Koh, Jang Hue (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • Seo, Dong Kuk (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • Chung, Chan Min (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • Jang, Young Chul (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • Oh, Suk Joon (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University)
  • 정의영 (한림대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실) ;
  • 이종욱 (한림대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실) ;
  • 고장휴 (한림대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실) ;
  • 서동국 (한림대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실) ;
  • 정찬민 (한림대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실) ;
  • 장영철 (한림대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실) ;
  • 오석준 (한림대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실)
  • Received : 2005.04.29
  • Published : 2005.09.10
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Abstract

An electrical burn used to result in the damage of the skin and underlying deep soft tissue injury. Thus, in order to preserve devitalizing tissues and promote the structural survival free flaps with ample blood supply are frequently employed. However, early unpredictable vascular injury and progressive tissue necrosis may cause the free flaps full of hazards. We applied 50 free flaps upon 41 acute electrical burn cases between 1998 and 2004. Injured areas, timing of operation and causes of flap loss were studied. The victim's ages ranged from 13 to 60 years. (an average 37.8 years) Thirteen out of 50 free flaps were lost totally: three cases were due to arterial insufficiency and ten venous congestion. Total loss of flaps were observed in 5 of 12 cases in the postoperative 3 weeks, 6 of 20 cases between 3 and 6 weeks and 2 of 18 cases after 6 weeks. In three of 12 cases the free flap was lost partially in the postoperative 3 weeks, 4 of 20 cases between 3 and 6 weeks and 1 of 18 cases after 6 weeks. The result was statistically significant by a T-test (p<0.05). This study showed that timing of the operation is accountable for the loss of free flap. It is most important to conduct the free flap procedure on an electrical injury at the time when the recipient vessel is definitely discernible and intact so as to minimize the loss of flap and spare the structures.

Keywords

References

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