Citation

Hill SM, Elwood ET. Ann. Plast. Surg. 2011; 67(3): 279-287.

Affiliation

From the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria IL.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/SAP.0b013e3181fab9ba

PMID

21508814

Abstract

Lawn mower injuries in children represent an unfortunate common problem to the plastic reconstructive surgeon, which are reported approximately 68,000 per year in the United States. Compounding this problem is the fact that a standard treatment algorithm does not exist. This study follows a series of 7 pediatric patients treated for lower extremity mower injuries by a single plastic surgeon. The extent of soft tissue injury varied. All patients were treated with negative pressure wound therapy as a bridge to definitive closure. Of the 7 patients, 4 required skin grafts, 1 required primary closure, 1 underwent a lower extremity amputation secondary to wounds, and 1 was repaired using a cross-leg flap. Function limitations were minimal for all of our patients after reconstruction. Our basic treatment algorithm is presented with initial debridement followed by the simplest method possible for wound closure using negative pressure wound therapy, if necessary.

Language: en