Reconstructive surgery of upper extremity after thermal burns: guidelines or experience?

Hand burns are among the most common burns due to the fact that they are, apart from the face, most exposed to fire, and they are also used to protect the face against a severe trauma from fire. Although hand burns are relatively small with regard to the total body surface area affected, the severity of the damage goes beyond the affected area. Initial treatment is conservative, followed by surgical management. For deep burns, surgical treatment is required between three to five days after the trauma. There are different options for reconstruction of the necrotising tissue according to the principles of the reconstructive ladder.