Management of wrist electrical burns with utilisation of recent modalities for better functional outcome

Abstract

Abstract Background: The aim is to study the sequence of events contributing the survival of wrist electrical burns and reconstructive options for salvage of soft tissue of electrical burns of wrist. Methods: Data of patients with high tension electrical burns involving the wrist admitted in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2020. There were 17 patients with electrical burns with wrist injury. Patients from age 18 to 65 years were included in the study. Patients were subjected to bio immunoassay, infrared thermography, indocyanine fluorescent scan, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and reconstructive procedures. Results: Among 17 patients, 16 were male. Their age ranged from 20 to 61 years. The injury resulted from 11 kv voltage line most often and the patients were admitted within a day of injury. All patients were subjected to multiple staged procedures of debridement and reconstruction. 7 patients were subjected to amputation of the limb, 5 patients subjected to reconstruction in terms of abdominal flap and 4 with groin flap and one perforator plus flap was used to cover the wrist defect. Conclusions: Wrist electrical burns due to its crucial location, requires knowledge on disease process, if ignored will directly lead to significant morbidity. Utilisation of newer modalities will help in timely intervention and salvage of the limb.