Management of hand burns using tangential excision and grafting versus delayed excision and grafting

Abstract

With the ever improving burn care the world over, the frontier has shifted from improving rate of survival to improving quality of life following injury. The questions we now face are how best to prevent the horrific scarring that has classically been associated with burns and to preserve function. Both these questions are more evident in the care of the burned hand than in burns over other parts of the body. 1-3 Our hands are so instrumental in maintaining one’s independence that even simple tasks take on a new level of complexity with hand disabilities. 4,5 A burn injury to the hand, whether in isolation or associated with a major systemic burn injury, continues to be a challenge to the treating surgeon, as correct clinical judgment and decision regarding management thereof can affect the final outcome both aesthetically and functionally. 6,7 Hands are frequently affected by serious and deep burns, more often located on the dorsum. Even though the total surface area of the hands is small, due to the functional and social role of the hands, a rapid and satisfactory functional recovery along with a good aesthetic outcome is crucial. 8,9 Objectives of the study to compare and study the management of hand burns using tangential excision and grafting, and delayed grafting in terms of; ABSTRACT