Objective. The analysis of the soft tissue coverage types employed in complex limb trauma in children towards a potential subsequent optimization of their management. Materials and methods. Data regarding the children admitted to the Burns and Plastic Surgery Clinic of ‘Grigore Alexandrescu’ children’s hospital, between 2005 and 2013 with complex limb trauma requiring soft tissue coverage was obtained from the surgical protocols. Information was gathered regarding patients’ sex and age, the type of incident, the mode of occurence, the region in need of coverage, the number and type of surgical procedures, as well as regarding the type of coverage employed. Results. A number of 80 children required soft tissue coverage in complex limb trauma. Boys accounted for approximately two thirds of all cases. The pacients had a minimum age of 1 year and a maximum one of 16 years. There were approximately 50% more trauma of this type affecting the upper limb than the lower one. The fingers required coverage in the majority of cases (77.5%). In the majority of cases at this level (77%) split-level thickness grafts and local flaps were applied. Conclusions. The majority of the complex pediatric soft tissue limb coverage cases were boys. Fingers were the predominantly affected area and most often the usage of split-level thickness grafts or of local flaps was required. The accidents were predominantly home related. The cases had an uncomplicated evolution, the coverage solutions employed being successful in over 90% of the situations.
Soft tissue coverage types for complex limb trauma in children
