Abdominoperineal electrical injury involving urogenital organs

Although the incidence of electrical burns is not very high this incidence is rising in India. The residual effects of electrical burns are sometimes very severe and long lasting, if not managed properly. This case report is of a patient who sustained severe electrical burns over his left arm, lower abdomen and perineal area. The injuries were so severe that life-saving di sarticulation of the limb together with excision of the involved pubic bone and genitalia and suprapubic urinary diversion was done. During follow up an unusual finding was noticed. There was a peritubal leak with no drainage from the catheter and on removal of the catheter, a manual examination of the urinary bladder revealed a stone which was removed at the same time. Fo llowing removal of the stone two ureteric openings with the trigone were se en and it was concluded that the granulating tissue was actually the poster ior wall of the bladder. This was then mobilized and reposited into the abd omen. The deficient lower abdomen was reconstructed with a tensor fascia la ta flap. A penile reconstruction for the patient is under consideration. (C ) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.