Abstract
Complex wounds represent a challenge for the wound care specialist. The aim of treatment of electrical burn wounds is to achieve skin cover of the soft-tissue defects, prevent infection, and allow a good function of the affected anatomical segment. Surgical reconstructive techniques for soft-tissue defects covering, such as muscle flaps, free flap transfers, and cross-leg techniques, are frequently used in treating sequelae after electrical burns. In some cases, when the patient cannot be a candidate for free flap surgery the use of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is an effective alternative that can minimize the traditional reconstructive surgery methods and can reduce the surface of the soft-tissue defect by filling it with new formed granulation tissue, creating a skin graft receptor bed.
This newer and simpler technique used for covering of exposed bone tissue can question the gold standard of plastic reconstructive surgery that utilizes muscle flaps as the only way to cover these defects.
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Ulici, A., Tevanov, I., Enescu, D.M., Ulici, A. (2018). The Use of NPWT in Treating Electrical Burn Wounds. In: Shiffman, M., Low, M. (eds) Pressure Injury, Diabetes and Negative Pressure Wound Therapy. Recent Clinical Techniques, Results, and Research in Wounds, vol 3. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/15695_2017_51
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