Reconstruction of disruption of the abdominal wall in burn patients

Two patients with extensive destruction of the full thickness of the abdominal wall and associated intra-abdominal injuries were encountered. One case resulted from burns to a patient pinned under an automobile in contact with the muffler; the other was injured as a result of penetration of the abdominal wall by a railroad coupling and was also burned in an associated welding accident at the same time. Extensive staged debridement and repair of intra-abdominal injuries in several procedures were required in case 1. Closure was eventually achieved with serial applications of mesh and split-thickness autografting. In case 2, an initial attempt at flap closure failed. Coverage initially was obtained with silicone mesh followed by split-thickness grafting. We report successful management of two of these difficult reconstructive challenges.