• Z Zhu, X Xu, and W Li.
• Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, ShenZhen 518035, Guang Dong, P. R. China.
• Zhonghua Shao Shang Za Zhi. 2001 Feb 1; 17 (1): 18-21.

ObjectiveTo summarize the experience with clinical emergent comprehensive repair of electrical injury.MethodsOne hundred fifty five cases of electrical injury during past 14 years were analyzed in terms of the emergent repair methods on the basis of medical records and photographs.ResultsIn this group of patients the average interval between injury and hospitalization was 14.9 +/- 21.5 hours, And 108 cases (70%) were admitted to hospital within 2 hours post injury. The average time between admission and first operation was 3.74 +/- 9.89 hours, and 70% of them was within 1 hour after admission. Four hundred and fifty nine wounds were debrided and 296 strips of tendons, 19 strips of blood vessels, 196 pieces of bone or joints and 16 strips of nerves, which were exposed, devitalized or necrotic, were saved. The grafting repair of tendons, bones, nerves and blood vessels was done in 24 case times. Three hundred and ninty eight tissue flaps were employed in 459 wounds. CLS (NS + Lidocaine + amphicol) solution was employed to irrigate underneath the flaps for 24 similar 96 hours or longer. Composite dan -- shen root (scatellaira indica) solution was given to all the patients by injection. As a result, the excellent rate of function and contour was 84.8%. The unsatisfactory and amputation rate was 9.6%. The rate of extremity and/or finer amputation was 1.8%. The rate of total limb loss including those lost instantly after injury was 9%.ConclusionEmergent comprehensive management of electrical injury was a feasible and effective method for decreasing extremity loss.

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