title: [Clinical investigation of the combined therapy on deformed fingers after burn injury].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the benefit of the combined therapy for deformed fingers after burn injury by comparing with the conventional one, and to sum up some experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 1999 to June 2004, 56 patients with deformed fingers entered the trial. In 28 patients of treatment group who received combined therapy (operation with post operational systematic convalescent care, group A), there were 20 males and 8 females (14-47 years), 129 fingers of 47 hands were involved. In 28 of conventional group who received conventional therapy (the same operational principle, and self-convalescent-care with out-patient service guidance, group B), there were 17 males and 11 females (18-51 years), 107 fingers of 42 hands were involved. Before and after the therapy, the finger's motor function were assessed according to the Swanson method. The hand's motor function was assessed through the Nine Hole Peg Test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The follow-up was 12-19 months in group A and 13-20 months in group B. The index of ankylosis (IA) of group A before therapy was 82% +/- 20%, and 45% +/- 13% after therapy; while the IA of group B before therapy was 78% +/- 17%, and 52% +/- 14% after therapy. The decreased of IA between before therapy and after therapy was 37% +/- 15% in group A, and 26% +/- 15% in group B, showing significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The Nine Hole Peg Test value of group A was 28.34 +/- 5.62 s before therapy, and 20.73 +/- 4.25 s after therapy; while that of group B was 27.47 +/- 5.78 s before therapy, and 21.86 +/- 4.12 s after therapy. The decrease of the Nine Hole Peg Test value between before therapy and after therapy was 7.61 +/- 2.27 s in group A, and 5.61 +/- 2.94 s in group B, showing statistically significant difference (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined therapy is more effective than the conventional one.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery and Burn, West China Hospital,Sichuan University, Chengdu Sichuan.
authors.forename: Xuewen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ceng
authors.forename: Jianlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006227:Hand Deformities, Acquired / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome