Jj. Pribaz et Fr. Pelham, USE OF PREVIOUSLY BURNED SKIN IN LOCAL FASCIOCUTANEOUS FLAPS FOR UPPER EXTREMITY RECONSTRUCTION, Annals of plastic surgery, 33(3), 1994, pp. 272-280
Thermal injuries are characterized by varying degrees of damage to the
skin and underlying structures. In the vast majority of patients, the
initial thermal injury is limited to the skin and subcutaneous fat. T
he underlying fascia and its vasculature usually are spared. Flaps are
required to cover nongraftable wounds (exposed tendon, bone, joints,
and so on) and also are used to release joint and web space contractur
es. Contrary to frequent opinion, previously burned skin or skin-graft
ed fascia can safety be used as fasciocutaneous flaps when necessary.
We present our series of burned patients in whom local flaps originati
ng from within the burned area were used, avoiding the need for more d
istant or free flaps to accomplish appropriate wound coverage. This se
ries consists of 40 fasciocutaneous flaps in 22 patients. The flaps in
cluded lateral arm (4), posterior interosseous (7), radial forearm (4)
, ulnar forearm (2), metacarpal (3), and digital (20).