Burn due to misuse of an acetylene gas burner: a case report

Abstract

A rare case of deep penetrating burn injury caused by misuse of a high-pressure acetylene burner is reported. A 35 year old man was admitted with second and third degree burns involving the right arm cubital area and a subcutaneous burn on his right arm caused by a high-pressure acetylene gas flame. Early surgical debridement and secondary skin grafting using a preserved subcutaneous vascular network skin graft (PSVNSG) proved effective in this patient. Skin contracture was prevented and function was recovered. The basis of PSVNSG is that the vascular system existing in the graft is used as a permanent vascular system without degeneration. This case shows that, in this kind of burn injury, subcutaneous tissue damage should be suspected and that it is important to perform surgical debridement early after admission.