Full thickness rectus abdominis muscle defect due to a contact burn

Abstract

A full thickness abdominal wall defect injury is unusual, and has rarely been reported as sustained by a degloving war wound [1–4]. Some electrical injuries have been known to cause abdominal wall necrosis [5]. However, full thickness rectus abdominus muscle necrosis due to a contact burn is rare. We present a case of a major abdominal wall defect due to a contact burn, whose reconstruction required bilateral pedicled tensor latafascia fasciocutaneous flaps and a free latissimus dorsi muscle flap to obtain successful abdominal closure, to prevent infection and postoperative hernia.