Severe thermal hand burns--factors affecting prognosis

This paper presents the results of the analysis of clinical data from a series of 132 thermally injured patients with 214 burned hands. The objective was to identify the factors affecting the pathogenesis of postburn hand deformities. The study indicates that deep burns have the worst prognosis and that circumferential burns are always followed by secondary sequelae. The incidence of secondary hand deformity rises sharply when the burn affects more than 25 per cent of the total body surface area (TBSA). Given the same physical therapy programme, early tangential excision and immediate grafting yield better results than conservative treatment. The results underline the role of patient motivation in maximal hand rehabilitation.     

Analysis of Reasons and Locations of Burns on Hands

During the period 1971–76, 1055 patients with fresh burns were treated at our hospital. Of these, 461 (88 females, 373 males) had sustained burns on altogether 783 hands. This amounts to 45% of the total number of fresh burns. In 322 cases both hands were involved, amounting to 31% of all cases of fresh burns, or 70% of all patients with burned hands. Whereas 82% of patients with hand burns had injuries to both hands, only 10% had sustained an injury to the right hand alone and 8% to the left hand alone. Cases of burns limited to the hands alone accounted for only 4.7% of all burn injuries. The main cause of burn injuries was thermal accident—most often steam explosions and the spraying of scalding liquids. The total number of hands injured by thermal agents totalled 707. i.e. 90% of all burned hands. Most of these were deep skin burns. Chemical agents were mainly responsible for this type of burn, whereas electrical burns were chiefly full thickness skin injuries. Analysis of the location of burns showed that 643 (82%) hands of the altogether 783 injuries sustained involved the wrist, 620 (79%) the metacarpus. 684 (87%) of the fingers. Some 321 hand burns (41%) were of a circumferential nature. A majority of burned hands were injured on the dorsal surface. The burn injuries of hands in 246 (53%) persons were connected with their professional work.     

The burned hand. A computer-assisted study of late function of 67 burned and operated hands

A good functional outcome of the hand is important in the rehabilitation of severely burned patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the late functional outcome of deeply burned hands using a computer aided system and to correlate the function with the distribution of the hand burns. Over a 12-year-period 378 patients whose acutely burned hands had been operated on at the burn center of the university hospital Aachen were invited to a follow-up examination. 67 burned and operated hands were evaluated 57 (3-364) months after the burn by the computerized evaluation system EVAL. Active flexion and extension, grip strength, pinch (key, 3-tip and 2-tip), moving 2-point sensitivity and the pattern of skin grafts and scars were assessed. The use of the hand in daily activities was evaluated by a questionnaire. The hands were classified in 4 groups according to the burn pattern: I: patchy burns (total < 12 cm2), II: confluent dorsal burns, III: confluent palmar burns, IV: mutilating burns. Good results were found in group I (n = 25), comparable to normal hand function. In group II (n = 25) there was a significant loss of total active flexion with preserved strength. Increased extension lag and impaired grip strength characterized group III (n = 8). Late functional results in group IV (n = 9) depended on the reconstructive procedure. Between the 4 groups there were significant differences in function. The results were well correlated to the burn pattern and its extent according the classification.     

Biosynthetic compound dressings--management of hand burns

To achieve optimal hand function, wound closure becomes the most important ingredient in hand burns. This study documents the use of a biosynthetic compound dressing (Biobrane) which has been fabricated as a glove for management of hand burns. The glove allowed rapid active motion and minimized the pain of open wounds. Forty-two Biobrane glove applications were evaluated with 50 per cent applied over superficial hand burns and 50 per cent over deep partial thickness or full thickness injuries. In the superficial hand burns, the patients were discharged home after a mean time of 2.8 days. With the deep burns the dressing provided a closed wound after early excision of eschar without the use of an autograft or biological dressing. Based on these studies, we conclude that the biosynthetic compound dressing glove is a useful adjunct to be added to the armamentarium for treatment of the burned hand.     

Surgical treatment of the deeply burned hand

An individualized treatment programme has been used in the management of deeply burned hands based on early excision of third-degree burns and delayed excision of mixed deep second-degree and third-degree burns. The function of the hand has been a crucial object both before surgery by means of treatment with gloves and postoperatively by exposure treatment. Six out of 25 hands have needed reconstructive procedures. By the follow-up respectively 86 per cent of the hands treated by early excision and 88 per cent of the hands treated by delayed excision have obtained a good functional and cosmetic result. We recommend both methods, but find that they have to be used separately for each particular burn.     

Anaphylatoxin formation in plasma and burn bullae fluid in the thermally injured patient

Plasma anaphylatoxins (C3a and C5a) were measured in 19 thermally injured patients with a mean total burned surface area of 39 per cent (range 10-90 per cent) of partial and full skin thickness loss. Extensive burns were associated with increased anaphylatoxin activity. Patients with greater than 50 per cent burned surface area had higher plasma C3a and C5a concentrations than patients with 10-25 per cent burns (P less than 0.001) 1 week after injury. Six out of seven patients with greater than 50 per cent burned surface area developed adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and four out of seven bacteraemia. Twelve patients had 10-25 per cent burns and none of them developed ARDS or bacteraemia. The mean C3a concentration per millilitre of fluid from the burn bullae from nine different individuals was 2570 +/- 260 ng/ml. The C5a content in fluid from the bullae did not differ from the corresponding plasma range. Increased anaphylatoxin activity might explain extensive extravasation of fluid in burned patients. This increase might also be one reason for leukocyte accumulation in burned areas.     

异种(猪)脱细胞真皮基质一次性包扎治疗深Ⅱ度烧伤

目的探讨应用异种(猪)脱细胞真皮基质一次性包扎治疗深Ⅱ度烧伤创面的临床应用效果。方法1997年1月—2004年1月,应用异种(猪)脱细胞真皮基质一次包扎治疗50%~95%总体表面积(TBSA)、深Ⅱ度烧伤的患者67例[异种(猪)脱细胞真皮基质治疗组];同期保痂治疗的50%~95%TBSA、深Ⅱ度的患者10例(保痂治疗组),观察创面愈合时间和愈合质量及其并发症发生情况。治愈患者经过3个月~2年的随诊,观察瘢痕增生情况。结果异种(猪)脱细胞真皮基质治疗组深Ⅱ度创面中途基本不需换药,创面愈合时间缩短,平均(12.2±2.6)d,而保痂治疗组愈合时间为(27.4±3.5)d,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);同时,异种(猪)脱细胞真皮基质治疗组瘢痕增生情况较保痂治疗组明显减轻或者无瘢痕增生。结论一次性覆盖异种(猪)脱细胞真皮基质可有效地治疗深Ⅱ度烧伤创面,能加快创面愈合,减轻瘢痕增生,从而降低烧伤感染和炎症反应综合征的发生。     

磨痂保留变性真皮自体皮片移植修复手深度烧伤的研究

目的探讨磨痂保留变性真皮自体皮片移植修复手深度烧伤的可行性。方法31名烧伤患者，双手为深Ⅱ、混合度（混合深Ⅱ度、Ⅲ度）烧伤。在同体中设立磨痂组（31只手），用自制的医用烧伤磨痂器磨痂保留变性真皮，移植自体薄中厚皮片；削痂组（31只手），上止血带，用辊轴刀削痂，移植自体中厚皮片。观察两组患者术中出血量、手术时间、皮片成活率、供皮区愈合情况、组织病理学、自制医用烧伤磨痂器的使用情况、外形与功能情况。结果磨痂组术中失血量与削痂组比较无差异性（P〉0．05）；手术时间明显缩短（P〈0．01）；皮片成活率高（P〈0．05）；外形及功能满意（P〈0．05）；磨痂组供皮区愈合时间较削痂组明显缩短（P〈0．01）。组织病理学检查示，磨痂保留的创基基本无坏死组织残留，保留的真皮为玻璃透明样变性。自制的医用烧伤磨痂器结构简单、使用方便、不需电源、造价低廉、效率较高。结论磨痂保留变性真皮自体皮片移植修复手深度烧伤可作为手深度烧伤微创治疗方法的常规术式，值得推广应用。自制的医用烧伤磨痂器结构简单、使用方便、造价低廉、效率较高，可作为磨痂术的常用手术器械。     

Therapeutic possibilities in hand burns

Four methods of treating the burned hand are possible: conservative treatment of superficial dermal burns, tangential excision and immediate grafting of deep dermal and barely full thickness burns, granulation method with late grafting of deep dermal to deep full thickness burns, flap procedures of full thickness burns. The tangential excision and grafting of deep dermal and barely third degree burns has improved the well being of the patient by good functional and cosmetic results, less hospitalization time (10-14 days) and less pain. The procedure is described. Tangential excision is contraindicated in the very deep burn. In these the growth of granulations or in certain cases the application of skinflaps will produce better results. Important as to the result is the aftercare consisting of compression gloves and physiotherapy. Even with progress the deep burn remains a devastating injury to the delicately operating hand. Nevertheless the appropriate therapy can achieve good results.     

Long-term experience with 1 per cent topical silver sulphadiazine cream in the management of burn wounds

Three hundred and forty-two patients with 10–50 per cent body surface area burns were studied prospectively over the 5-year period from 1982 to 1986 for the effectiveness of topical 1 per cent silver sulphadiazine. Various parameters were studied including: (i) healing time of deep partial skin thickness burns, (ii) eschar separation time, (iii) conversion rate of deep dermal burns to full skin thickness burns, (iv) burn wound surface bacterial flora and their changing pattern over the years, (v) incidence of invasive sepsis and (vi) overall mortality. There was a remarkable decrease in the time taken for the healing of deep dermal burns, and the conversion rate of deep dermal burns to full skin thickness was significantly reduced. Eschar separation was delayed considerably. There was a total change in the predominent surface micro-organisms from Staph. aureus, which was predominant in 1982, to pseudomonas species and klebsiella in 1986. Moreover, there was the emergence of a new variety of micro-organism within the last 2 years. The incidence of invasive infection and overall mortality was significantly reduced.     

An analysis of burn mortality: a report from a Spanish regional burn centre

This paper reports an analysis of the mortality rates and related factors in our Burn Centre, based on 710 patients treated between 1985 and 1988. The average age of the patients was 23.8 years and the average burn size was 14 per cent of the body surface area. Burning injury affected mainly men (66 per cent), and their mortality rate was higher than that of women. The overall mortality rate was 6.6 per cent, the average age of the fatally injured patients being 54 years. We confirm that mortality in burned patients is closely related to: age (51 per cent of the patients were over 60 years of age); burn size (68 per cent of the patients had burns covering more than 30 per cent TBS); burn depth (57.4 per cent had full skin thickness burns); inhalation injury (present in 66 per cent of the fatally injured); and associated risk factors. The main cause of the burning injury was flames, chiefly from domestic accidents. The average survival time for the fatally injured patients was 10 days. Finally, our expected mortality followed a linear regression model, the LA50 for patients with only full skin thickness burns was 50 per cent.     

拉长式弹性牵引矫治烧伤后爪形手畸形

目的 探讨修复烧伤后爪形手畸形的新途径.方法 2006年5月至2010年7月,对12例瘢痕切除松解植皮或皮瓣移植术后畸形矫正不满意的烧伤爪形手,应用个性化手功能支具结合橡皮筋、指端克氏针(或粘胶带)对手指进行拉长式弹性牵引.结果 术后随访0.5～2年,弹性牵引对烧伤爪形手中存在的掌指关节过伸畸形、近侧指间关节屈曲畸形、虎口挛缩均有效果,可将屈曲短缩的手指拉长,也有利于掌弓复位.少部分(8/28)拉长复位的近侧指间关节屈曲畸形复发或关节不稳,需关节融合.结论 拉长式弹性牵引是矫治烧伤后爪形手畸形的有效方法,损伤小,效果较稳定.     

拉长式弹性牵引矫治烧伤后爪形手畸形

目的 探讨修复烧伤后爪形手畸形的新途径.方法 2006年5月至2010年7月,对12例瘢痕切除松解植皮或皮瓣移植术后畸形矫正不满意的烧伤爪形手,应用个性化手功能支具结合橡皮筋、指端克氏针(或粘胶带)对手指进行拉长式弹性牵引.结果 术后随访0.5～2年,弹性牵引对烧伤爪形手中存在的掌指关节过伸畸形、近侧指间关节屈曲畸形、虎口挛缩均有效果,可将屈曲短缩的手指拉长,也有利于掌弓复位.少部分(8/28)拉长复位的近侧指间关节屈曲畸形复发或关节不稳,需关节融合.结论 拉长式弹性牵引是矫治烧伤后爪形手畸形的有效方法,损伤小,效果较稳定.     

拉长式弹性牵引矫治烧伤后爪形手畸形

目的 探讨修复烧伤后爪形手畸形的新途径.方法 2006年5月至2010年7月,对12例瘢痕切除松解植皮或皮瓣移植术后畸形矫正不满意的烧伤爪形手,应用个性化手功能支具结合橡皮筋、指端克氏针(或粘胶带)对手指进行拉长式弹性牵引.结果 术后随访0.5～2年,弹性牵引对烧伤爪形手中存在的掌指关节过伸畸形、近侧指间关节屈曲畸形、虎口挛缩均有效果,可将屈曲短缩的手指拉长,也有利于掌弓复位.少部分(8/28)拉长复位的近侧指间关节屈曲畸形复发或关节不稳,需关节融合.结论 拉长式弹性牵引是矫治烧伤后爪形手畸形的有效方法,损伤小,效果较稳定.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate a new method for correction of claw hand deformity after burns. Methods From May 2006 to Jul. 2010, 12 patients with claw hands deformities after burns were treated with skin grafts (11 hands) and skin flap(1 hand) with unsatisfactory results. Then elastic traction (skin traction or skeletal traction) were performed with individual functional brace. Results All patients were followed up for 0. 5 to 2 years. Elastic traction was effective in the correction of metacarpophalangeal joint deformity, buttonhole deformity, thumb-in-palm deformity, scar contracture, and palmar arch deformity. Conclusions Elastic traction is a simple and effective way for the correction of claw hand deformity after burns with less morbidity and stable results.     

The effects of vitamin E on immune regulation after thermal injury

Studies were conducted on four groups of rats, each group consisting of 10 rats with burn + vitamin E, burn + saline solution, control + vitamin E and control + saline solution. Before and after burning 250 mg (2 cm3) of vitamin E was given intramuscularly. On the same days 2 cm3 of saline solution was given to the controls. The rats were burned over 30 per cent of their body surface area and then inoculated intraperitoneally with 40 units of tetanus toxoid. Complement fixation and acid phosphatase tests were carried out on the days 15 and 21 postburn. On day 21, the rats were killed and the spleens removed and weighted. In the groups that received vitamin E, the spleen weight and complement fixation test increased significantly while the acid phosphatase in serum decreased. In the clinical study, 17 burned patients with over 20 per cent deep partial or full skin thickness burns and eight healthy persons were studied. Nine of the 17 burned patients received vitamin E on 3 consecutive days, on day 4 blood was taken for analysis. The results showed that the number of T-cells decreased significantly in burn patients (P less than 0.05) whereas they increased significantly (P less than 0.05) in burn patients who received vitamin E. It is concluded from these experimental and clinical studies that vitamin E stimulates both cellular and humoral immunity. Therefore, the use of vitamin E in combination with conventional therapy in burn patients can be recommended.     

Palmare Verbrennung der Hand

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of conservative and operative treatment for burn injuries in the palmar region of the hand. METHODS AND CLINICAL MATERIAL: One hundred ten patients from the severe burn center in Ludwigshafen, Germany were evaluated a mean of 28 months postoperatively. Sixty-one had been treated with split-thickness skin grafts (43 sheet and 18 mesh grafts). In addition to subjective evaluation (including pain assessment and aesthetic outcome rating by visual analog scale), objective outcome analysis included clinical tests, measurement of active range of motion and grip strength, and sensibility testing with the two-point discrimination and Semmes-Weinstein monofilament tests. RESULTS: Of the patients, 90% were satisfied with the results, showing excellent pain relief with an average score under 13 on the visual analog scale. Aesthetic outcome was rated good with sheet grafts; in appearance, mesh grafts tended to be rated average or insufficient. Functional outcome tests demonstrated a significant correlation between depth of injury and range of motion. Grip strength analysis revealed superior results with sheet grafts. Sensibility in the injured areas was lower than on the contralateral hands. The Semmes-Weinstein test average was 3.4 degrees at the burned area vs 3.0 degrees in healthy hands, underscoring lower sensibility after burns. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of burned palms leads to good subjective and objective results, if specialized burn units are involved. Overall sheet transplantation seems to be the better choice for surgical reconstruction of the palmar burned hand.     

Prospective study of burn wound excision of the hands

To examine the role of early excision and grafting in the preservation of maximal function of hands with deep dermal burns, we prospectively evaluated 164 burned hands in consecutively admitted patients (mean age, 29 years; mean burn size, 37% of body surface). All hands with burn depths of second degree, deep second degree, or third degree above the level of the tendons and joint capsules were assessed preoperatively, intraoperatively, and at discharge from the hospital. Patients were treated by excision and grafting in the first or second postburn week, by delayed grafting alone, or by allowing primary healing. Total active range of motion measurements were made on the day of discharge (mean, 64th postoperative day). Mean operative blood loss per hand was 1,270 ml. When all (alive and dead) patients undergoing early excision and grafting were examined by a binomial probability model, early surgery was shown to produce no adverse affect on survival. Excision and grafting of hands with deep dermal burns, whether early or late, offered no advantage over physical therapy and primary healing in maintaining hand function. Likewise, hands with more superficial burns responded equally to operative and nonoperative treatment. While early excision and grafting of hands with third-degree burns tended to produce poorer results than did initial nonoperative care and late grafting, the differences are just outside the range of significance. Early excision and grafting of selected third-degree injuries of the hands may be indicated in patients with small total body surface burns in order to shorten hospital stay. However, early surgical intervention in patients with massive burns should be directed toward area coverage, not toward hand excision.     

保留变性真皮并移植大张自体皮修复手部深度烧伤的远期疗效观察

目的观察保留变性真皮并移植大张自体皮修复手部深度烧伤的远期疗效。方法对86例患者的152只深度烧伤手经削刮痂保留变性真皮后,行大张自体皮移植术。术后观察疗效并作随访,时间为3个月—3年,对手部皮肤的颜色、弹性、挛缩程度及功能进行评级。结果152只手中外观及功能优良者141只,占92.8%。结论保留变性真皮并移植大张自体皮修复手部深度烧伤,术后外观及功能恢复较好,是修复手部深度烧伤创面的较佳选择。     

烧伤后爪形手畸形的整复

目的 探讨烧伤后爪形手畸形的整复方法. 方法 1992年5月-2007年5月,笔者对97例(136只患手)烧伤后爪形手畸形患者进行手术整复,患手中,轻度畸形21只、中度92只、重度23只;手背创面植皮修复104只患手,皮瓣转移修复32只患手.掌指关节复位在手背部瘢痕组织充分松解后主要采用手法拔伸牵引复位,必要时松解侧副韧带、背侧关节囊和分离关节内粘连,肌腱挛缩明显者行肌腱延长术.手背瘢痕松解整复后根据情况行手指屈曲畸形整复、指蹼和虎口粘连松解植皮、指伸肌腱中央腱修复或指间关节融合术.31例患者因手指屈曲畸形严重,阻碍掌指关节复位,先行手指掌侧瘢痕松解植皮,再行手背瘢痕松解、掌指关节复位、皮瓣转移或植皮.术后采取综合康复治疗措施. 结果术后皮片全部成活;4只患手皮瓣远端边缘因瘢痕组织部分坏死,换药后愈合,其余皮瓣完全成活.患手绝大部分关节畸形完全或基本纠正,对掌、握拳功能恢复或部分恢复,效果较为满意. 结论个性化、系统全面地进行皮片移植和皮瓣转移是整复烧伤后爪形手的关键.     

Cryopreserved cadaveric allografts for treatment of unexcised partial thickness flame burns: clinical experience with 12 patients

Partial thickness burns (PTB) usually heal within 3 weeks. Prevention of infection and desiccation of the wounds are crucial for optimal healing. Early tangential excision of the burn eschar and allografting prevent deepening of the burns, and are therefore advocated for treatment with the best functional and aesthetic results. For superficial partial thickness burns (SPTB) conservative use of topical antimicrobial agents with frequent dressing changes are implemented. We compared the conservarive treatment for PTBs and SPTBs to grafting cryopreserved cadaveric allografts with no prior excision.

Twelve patients with flame PTB areas were allografted after mechanical debridement without excision of the burn wounds. The allografts were cadaveric skin cryopreserved by programmed freezing and stored at −180°C for 30–48 months. Matching burns for depth and area were treated with silver sulfadiazine (SSD) one to two times daily until healing or debridement and grafting were required.

It was found that 80 per cent of the cryopreserved allografts adhered well and 76 per cent of the treated areas healed within 21 days, whereas only 40 per cent of the SSD-treated burns healed within 21 days.

Partial thickness burns can be treated successfully with viable human allografts (cryopreserved cadaveric skin) with no prior surgical excision. The burn wounds heal well within 3 weeks. For deep partial thickness burns (DPTB) treatment with allografts has no advantage if they have not been previously excised.