Pedicled full‐thickness abdominal flap combined with skin grafting for the reconstruction of anterior chest wall defect following major electrical burn

Abstract

Successful reconstruction of extensive anterior chest wall defect following major electrical burn represents a very challenging surgery. Herein we report the first case using pedicled full-thickness abdominal flap combined with skin grafting to treat this injury with severe infection and exposure of pericardium and ribs in a Chinese patient. Following the performance of chest debridement to remove necrotic and infected tissues and the injection of broad-spectrum antibiotics to reduce infection, a pedicled full-thickness abdominal flap was used to cover the exposed pericardium and ribs, and skin grafting from the right leg of the patient was done to cover the exposed vital tissues. The patient was followed up for a total of 3·5 years, and satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcomes were obtained without complications. This report provides an effective method for the surgeons who encounter similar cases where reconstruction of extensive anterior chest wall is required.

Pedicled versus in situ internal thoracic artery: A petition for consistency in communication

“…In plastic surgery, the term pedicled flap refers to a tissue island that retains a donor site attachment. 9,10 This is a flap that is transported to a new location while keeping the stalk intact with its original blood supply, 11 such as with the pedicled transverse rectus abdominus muscle in breast reconstruction. 12 Our plastic surgery colleagues subsequently popularized the concept of a free flap, which involved detaching the tissue and blood supply from its original location and transferring it to a new one, with microvascular techniques used to ensure viability.…”