Erdem Barış Cartı1, Ahmet Deniz Uçar2, Mehmet Yıldırım2

1Department of General Surgery, Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey
2Clinic of General Surgery, Health Sciences University Izmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey

Abstract

Objective: Upper extremity electrical burn can create severe sequela and debilitation if not treated properly. Immediate decompression with fasci- otomy and carpal tunnel release seem to be the most promising choice of treatment. Neurologic functional loss can be avoided if median nerve is liberated.

Material and Methods: During 6-year time interval, 50 out of 1158 burn patients underwent upper extremity decompressive fasciotomy with carpal tunnel release. Their hand motor function based on nerve innervation and daily usage questionnaire were followed in 12-month intervals.

Results: Average score rose markedly after 18th month and reached nearly normal at the end of 66th month. Median, ulnar and radial nerve function tests were all positive, and no irreversible nerve function loss observed.

Conclusion: All compartments of the forearm should be explored and carpal tunnel release should be added into upper extremity decompressive fasciotomy after electrical burns.

Keywords: Carpal tunnel, electric burn, burn


 

Ethics Committee Approval

The approval for this study was obtained from İzmir Bozyaka Education and Research Hospital Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 4, Date: 18.08.2015).

Peer Review

Externally peer-reviewed.

Author Contributions

Concept - E.B.Ç., A.D.U., M.Y.; Design - E.B.Ç., A.D.U., M.Y.; Supervision - E.B.Ç., A.D.U., M.Y.; Materials - E.B.Ç., A.D.U., M.Y.; Data Collection and/or Processing - E.B.Ç., A.D.U., M.Y.; Analysis and/or Interpratation - E.B.Ç., A.D.U., M.Y.; Literature Review - E.B.Ç., A.D.U., M.Y.; Writing Manuscript - E.B.Ç., A.D.U., M.Y.; Critical Reviews - E.B.Ç., A.D.U., M.Y.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Financial Disclosure

The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.