Acute dorsal hand burns in children

Hand burns in children, whether isolated or part of massive burns, require special attention. A crucial element in this respect is the preservation and full restoration of hand function. Most cases of severe sequelae after burns are associated with hand burns. From January 2002 to November 2004, 125 children with hand burns and other body burns were treated at the Centre of Burns and Plastic Surgery in Sofia, Bulgaria. This review presents our experience with 71 children with 89 burned hands in the region of the dorsal surface of the hand. Forty-nine hands had isolated dorsal surface burns, and 40 had combined burns, i.e. both dorsal and volar. Of all the hands treated, 69 had superficial burns, which epithelialized spontaneously. Twenty hands with deep dermal and full-thickness burns were subjected to sheet autografting. The review includes many details of the systematic approach to this type of burns. Optimal recovery of hand function can be achieved by accurate planning of treatment. Tracking of long-term results is also included in the general plan of behaviour in this type of burn. Our approach is conservative for superficial burns and active - with early excision and prompt closure with sheet autograft or, in extensive burns, allografting followed by covering with an autograft.