title: Microsurgical Reconstruction of the Burned Hand and Upper Extremity.
abstract: Improvements in critical care and burn victim resuscitation have led to increased survival of burned patients. Initial resuscitation, early excision of burned tissues, prevention of burn wound sepsis, and wound coverage remain mainstays of care. Many burn wounds require complex reconstruction. This is particularly important in the hand. Coverage of tendons, ligaments, joints, vessels, nerves, and bones of the hand requires healthy vascularized tissue to maintain viability and function. Local flaps or regional flaps may be within the burn zone of injury. Refined microvascular free tissue transfer techniques offer free tissue transfer as a procedure that can be safely performed.
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Plastic Surgery, Southern Illinois University, 747 North Rutledge Street, Springfield, IL 62702- 6700, USA. Electronic address: mdelagarza@siumed.edu.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De la Garza
authors.affiliation: Department for Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, BG Trauma Center, Friedberger Landstrasse 430, Frankfurt am Main 60389, Germany; Department for Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig Guttman Street 13, Ludwigshafen 67071, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sauerbier
authors.affiliation: Department for Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen, University of Heidelberg, Ludwig Guttman Street 13, Ludwigshafen 67071, Germany.
authors.forename: Germann
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Günter
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114-2621, USA.
authors.forename: Curtis L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cetrulo
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Monroe Carell, Jr Children's Hospital, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, D-4207 Medical Center North, Nashville, TN 37232-2345, USA.
authors.forename: Reuben A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.affiliation: Heartland Plastic Surgery Center, 320 East Carpenter, Spfingfield, IL 62702-5185.
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Plastic Surgery, Southern Illinois University, 747 North Rutledge Street, Springfield, IL 62702- 6700, USA.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Neumeister
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps
keywords: Burn; Contracture; Free flap; Hand; Microsurgery; Reconstruction