Challenges Posed by Delayed Presentation of Mutilating Hand Injuries.

Management of mutilating hand injury is a challenge for any hand surgeon. Delay in presentation makes management even more challenging, usually because of inadequate initial assessment, inadequate debridement leading to infection, and secondary loss of tissues from exposure and desiccation. The aim is to obtain a functional hand by radical debridement, adequate assessment of the injury, appropriately timed reconstruction, and physiotherapy and rehabilitation. The hand surgeon must pay attention to the appearance of the hand by elimination of deformities, unsightly scars and bulky flaps to help to restore confidence in the patient to face the demands of daily living.