Related Experiment Videos
A bipedicled chest wall flap to cover an open elbow joint in a burned infant
Injury
|January 1, 1982
Insights
A deep arm burn in an infant was successfully treated using a chest wall flap, preserving limb function. This innovative surgical technique avoided the need for an above-elbow amputation, ensuring a better outcome for the child.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Burn Management
Background:
- Severe pediatric burns involving joints pose significant reconstructive challenges.
- Preserving limb function and avoiding amputation are critical goals in pediatric burn care.
Observation:
- A 7-month-old infant presented with a deep, extensive burn to the left upper arm and forearm.
- The burn resulted in an open elbow joint wound with exposed bone and articular cartilage.
Findings:
- A bipedicled chest wall flap was surgically employed to reconstruct the extensive soft tissue defect.
- The flap successfully covered the exposed joint structures, facilitating limb salvage.
Implications:
- This case demonstrates the efficacy of chest wall flaps in managing complex pediatric upper extremity burns.
- Successful limb salvage and functional preservation were achieved, avoiding the need for amputation.
- The technique highlights a viable reconstructive option for severe joint-involved pediatric burns.
Abstract:
A 7-month-old girl sustained a deep and extensive burn of the posterior aspect of the left upper arm and forearm, complicated by an open wound of the elbow joint with exposed bone and articular cartilage. A bipedicled chest wall flap was used to cover the defect. The limb was preserved along with good function in the elbow joint. An above-elbow amputation was thus avoided.