Electrical injuries make up a relatively small portion of burn injuries. Safety measures in place on domestic electricity supply have reduced the occurrence of high voltage electrical injuries. We present the case of a young man who sustained a high voltage electrical injury on all four limbs. Early fasciotomy was performed on both his hands and forearms. Despite early compartment release, the left upper limb deteriorated and required amputation. In this article we discuss the indications, outcomes and complications of early fasciotomy.
The current trend of burn wound care has shifted to more holistic approach of improvement in the long-term form and function of the healed burn wounds and quality of life. This has demanded the emergence of various skin substitutes in the management of acute burn injury as well as post burn reconstructions. Skin substitutes have important roles in the treatment of deep dermal and full thickness wounds of various aetiologies. At present, there is no ideal substitute in the market. Skin substitutes can be divided into two main classes, namely, biological and synthetic substitutes. The biological skin substitutes have a more intact extracellular matrix structure, while the synthetic skin substitutes can be synthesised on demand and can be modulated for specific purposes. Each class has its advantages and disadvantages. The biological skin substitutes may allow the construction of a more natural new dermis and allow excellent re-epithelialisation characteristics due to the presence of a basement membrane. Synthetic skin substitutes demonstrate the advantages of increase control over scaffold composition. The ultimate goal is to achieve an ideal skin substitute that provides an effective and scar-free wound healing.