[Sequelae of hand burns].

INTRODUCTION

Hand burns are common. Aesthetic and functional consequences are mixed together.

ANATOMY: Palmar and dorsal skin are very different. Palmar skin is thick and strong, dedicated to the prehension. Dorsal skin is very thin, creating a mobility plan dedicated to the flexion of the fingers.

AESTHETIC SEQUELAE: They are rarely isolated. Proximal nail retractions can occur after nail burns, with matricial exposition. We remove the scar and a full skin graft is done in order to give a normal proximal nail skin shape.

FUNCTIONAL SEQUELAE: They are fingers and wrist retractions. We often use collagen substitute to cover soft tissue defect after scar excision. Commissure retractions are treated by trident plasty.

PARTICULAR CASES: Electrical burns: we expose the case of a thumb amputation after necrosis by electrical burn, secondary treated by index policization. Children burns: the bridles appear during the growth, so we must follow this patient for a long time.

CONCLUSION

Hand burns are frequent. Functional sequelae are often important: retractions, amputations. The orthopaedic treatment of these retractions is unspecific. We often use collagen substitute in our unit. The patient must be involved in his treatment, because it is very long and difficult.