Surgical Treatment the Sequelae of High Voltage Electrical Injury of Hand and Forearm

Abstract

Ten patients with electrical injury (over 3000 V) of the forearm and hand were operated on during the period of 11.6±3.1 months after accident. Soft tissue plasty with free microsurgical flap and simultaneous tendon and nerve plasty with nonvascularized autograft was performed in eight patients. In two patients with extensive soft tissue defects microsurgical flap included musculus latissimus dorsi that was reinnervated using the anastomoses with anterior interosseous nerve. For the restoration of sensation along the palmar surface of the hand, transposition of ulnar nerve segment on a vascular pedicle from the arm to the forearm was performed. Although no severe postoperative complications developed all patients required tendolysis and transposition of tendons for the restoration of tendon function. Those additional interventions provided the restoration of the wrist grip and social rehabilitation of all patients.