title: The use of split-thickness versus full-thickness skin graft to resurface volar aspect of pediatric burned hands: A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this systematic review was to discuss the comparison of split-thickness skin graft (STSG) and full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) use as the treatment for volar digital and palmar burns in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted PubMed and Cochrane Library searches using keywords "hand injuries", "contracture" and "skin transplantation". The search was limited to studies published from 1st January 1980 until 31st December 2013 and used English language. We selected the studies based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. We assessed the quality of the studies by using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for cohort studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included eight articles in our systematic review. One of those studies is a prospective cohort study and the others are retrospective cohort studies. Based on combined range of motion (ROM) evaluation in three studies, STSG group yielded poorer functional outcomes than FTSG group. However, there is no study which can fairly show that FTSG was significantly superior to STSG to achieve good functional outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Currently, there is no strong, high-quality evidence to prove that FTSG is superior to STSG to cover pediatric palmar burns. Either FTSG or STSG can be utilized with consideration of several influential factors especially splinting and physiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital/Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia. Electronic address: teddyohprasetyono@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Theddeus O H
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Prasetyono
authors.affiliation: Diponegoro 71, Jakarta 13410, Indonesia. Electronic address: patricia_marcellina@yahoo.co.id.
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sadikin
authors.affiliation: Diponegoro 71, Jakarta 13410, Indonesia. Electronic address: db.k.adi.saputra@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Debby K A
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Saputra
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003286:Contracture / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013165:Splints
keywords: Contracture; Hand injuries; Skin transplantation