title: Acute Management of Hand Burns.
abstract: The hand is extremely susceptible to burn injuries, and hand burns can occur in up to 90% of all major burns. A thorough neurovascular examination of the hand should be performed in the acute setting. Escharotomies are required in patients with full-thickness or circumferential burns, when perfusion of the upper extremity is compromised. The decision for excision and grafting is based on whether the wound will heal in the first 2 to 3 weeks after the burn injury. Acute care and resuscitation are always importance in this patient population; subsequent care leads to optimal hand functionality and cosmetic long-term outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, 7CT70 Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, 325 9th Avenue, Mailstop #359796, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
authors.forename: Ashwin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soni
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, UW Burn Center, 7CT70 Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, University of Washington, 325 9th Avenue, Box #359796, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
authors.forename: Tam N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 675 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 19-250, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: Jason.ko@nm.org.
authors.forename: Jason H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012151:Resuscitation; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Acute; Burn excision; Hand burns; Skin grafting; Wound management