Related Experiment Videos
[Palmar burns of the hand in children. 81 cases]
C Vasseur1, V Martinot, P Pellerin
1Service de Chirurgie Plastique et Réparatrice, Hôpital B, CHRU de Lille.
Insights
Pediatric palmar burns generally heal well, with most children experiencing no long-term issues. Factors like burn severity and delayed treatment can impact outcomes for pediatric hand burns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Burn Management
- Hand Reconstruction
Context:
- Review of 81 children (5 months to 3 years) with palmar hand burns treated between 1988 and 1992.
- Analysis of burn characteristics: unilateral (53), superficial second-degree (48), contact burns (55), predominantly in boys (48), affecting the palm (69).
Purpose:
- To evaluate the treatment outcomes and long-term sequelae of palmar burns in young children.
- To identify prognostic factors influencing the severity and functional impact of pediatric palmar burns.
Summary:
- Initial management included conservative healing or split-skin grafting (8 cases).
- At 12 months, 79% had no sequelae. Long-term (3+ years), 15% developed sequelae (adhesions, deformities), treated surgically.
- Final functional assessment showed 90% had no sequelae, with only 4 children experiencing moderate discomfort, indicating a good prognosis for pediatric palmar burns.
Impact:
- Highlights the generally favorable prognosis of pediatric palmar burns with appropriate management.
- Identifies key indicators of severity: first commissure involvement, dorsal burn association, deep burns, poor social factors, and delayed treatment.
- Informs clinical decision-making and emphasizes the importance of timely intervention for optimal functional recovery in pediatric hand burn patients.
Abstract:
The authors reviewed 81 children between the ages of 5 months and 3 years suffering from palmar burns of hands from 1988 to 1992. Most burns were unilateral (53), superficial 2nd degree (48), due to contact (55), in boys (48) and only affecting the palm (69). The initial treatment consisted of directed healing followed by a split-skin graft in 8 cases. The initial scar was not retracted in 58 cases, retracted in 17 cases and hypertrophic in 8 cases. 79% of children had no sequelae at 12 months. At more than three years, 15% of children (12) had sequelae: 9 adhesions of the first commissure, 5 flexion deformities of long fingers, 3 clinodactylies, 1 syndactyly. All were operated by trident plasties, Colston flaps or full-thickness skin graft. A final functional assessment was performed. 90% of children had no sequelae. Four children still presented moderate functional discomfort (3 adhesions of the first commissure requiring reoperation, one case of decreased sensitivity). Palmar burns in children have a good prognosis. Factors of severity are: involvement of the 1st commissure, associated dorsal burn, deep 2nd degree, poor social conditions, delayed management.