Groin Flap in Paediatric Age Group to Salvage Hand after Electric Contact Burn: Challenges and Experience.

Abstract

Electric contact burn is characterised by multiple wounds produced by entrance and exit of the current. Hand is most commonly involved in the same and children are particularly susceptible to such accidents. To document effectiveness and challenges associated with the use of groin flap as an initial definitive treatment of electric contact burn in paediatric age group. From January 2015 to December 2016, 25 children up to 12 years of age, who were admitted at SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, after electric burn injury with hand defect and who were treated by pedicled groin flap at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, were included in the study. Details related to gender, age, type of voltage injury, sites of injury and postoperative complications were recorded. The groin flap was used in these children for coverage of hand and finger defect with exposed bone and tendon. Normal functional results were seen in all children treated with pedicled groin flap and all were able to perform activities of daily living. All the children had satisfactory aesthetic result. Although, groin flap was an uncomfortable procedure due to limb position that was particularly difficult for children, it was found to be a useful method to salvage hand and it resulted in favourable functional and aesthetic outcome in each case.