Abstract
The hands, despite comprising <10% of overall body surface area, have a major impact on patient function and health related quality of life. Hands are readily visible to both the patient and others; as such, it has a potential impact on a person’s self-perception. The majority of hand burns initially present in non-burn centers. Knowledge of hand anatomy as well as accurate initial evaluation and management of the burned hand by non-burn practitioners is essential to optimize patient outcomes. Second and third degree burns and burns that are unlikely to heal within 2 weeks should be referred to a qualified burn surgeon. The basic tenets of hand burn care are to (1) promote a wound healing environment, (2) maintain circulation, (3) prevent infection, (4) obtain wound closure, and (5) maintain motion. This chapter focuses on the anatomy, evaluation, and initial treatment of hand burns and discusses some common long-term problems associated with hand burns.
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Palmieri, T.L. (2023). Treatment of Hand Burns. In: Lee, J.O. (eds) Essential Burn Care for Non-Burn Specialists. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28898-2_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28898-2_8
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