Hands are susceptible to burn injuries. It is essential that hand burns be treated early, aggressively, adequately and skillfully for the best possible outcome to be obtained. The aim of the treatment in burns of the hand is prevention of scarring, rapid re-covering with the skin and maintenance of mobility of the joints. The main aim of this study was to present the data and characteristics of hand burns presenting in a private setup. The study was conducted from June 2005 to June 2008 in a private setup. All the patients presenting with hand burns were included. Patients < 12 years were excluded from the study. Only the patients presenting with fresh burns of one month old were included. The superficial burns were managed by daily dressings and were left for secondary healing. The deeper burns were excised and skin grafting was done. In few cases, where deeper tissues were involved especially, the flap surgery was performed. Total 52 patients were included in the study. The male to female ratio was 2.25:1. The mean age of male patients was 30.3 years and 27.2 years in females. Majority of the males had flame burns (38.9%) followed by electric burns (36.1%). Among the females, scalds (43.8%) was the commonest cause followed by flame burn (37.5%) Majority of the patients (76.9%) had burns of dorsum of hand. Thumb was involved in 30.8% patients .Web spaces were involved in 34.6% patients. In majority of the patients (48.1%), skin grafting was undertaken. 34.6% patients were left for secondary healing. In 17.3% cases, flap surgeries were performed which included cross-finger flap, posterior interosseous flap, abdominal pocketing. In all cases, compression gloves were used postoperatively once the healing was stable. Only one case of flap infection and one case of partial flap necrosis was seen.
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