Skip to main content

Fingertip Burns

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Fingertip Injuries

Abstract

The role that our hands, and in particular our fingertips, have in our exploration of and interaction with our surroundings often places our hands in harm’s way. Contact with a variety of caustic substances or exposure to temperature extremes can result in serious injury to our most important sensory end organs. These injuries may often involve significant portions of the hand, the upper limb, or the entire body. Evaluation and treatment of fingertip injuries will often take on a lesser priority in the setting of a more extensive injury pattern. In the following pages, we discuss various burns to the fingers. The pathophysiology of injury is reviewed as well as treatment recommendations. Finally, we discuss some of the potential postburn sequelae in the finger.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

 References

  1. Luce EA. The acute and subacute management of the burned hand. Clin Plast Surg. 2000;27(1):49–63.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Barillo DJ, Harvey KD, Hobbs CdL, Mozingo DW, Cioffi WG, Pruitt BA Jr. Prospective outcome analysis of a protocol for the surgical and rehabilitative management of burns to the hands. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1997;100:1442–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Smith P. Injury. In: Smith P, editor. Lister’s the Hand diagnosis and indications. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2002. p. 1–140.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Salisbury RE. Acute care of the burned hand. In: McCarthy JG, May JW, Littler JW, editors. Plastic surgery. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1990. p. 5399–417.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Boswick JA. Rehabilitation of the burned hand. Clin Orthop. 1974;104:162–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kaloudová Y, Sín R, Rihová H, Brychta R, Suchánek I, Martincová A. High voltage electrical injuries. Actga Chir Plast 2006;48(4):119–22.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Garcia-Sanchez V, Morell PG. Electric burns: high- and low-tension injuries. Burns. 1999;25:357–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Tarim A, Ezer A. Electrical burn is still a major risk factor for amputations. Burns. 2013;39(2):354–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Foucher G, Nagel D, Briand E. Microvascular great toenail transfer after conventional thumb reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999;103(2):570–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lin PY, Sebastin SJ, Ono S, Bellfi LT, Chang KW, Chung KC. A systematic review of outcomes of toe-to-thumb transfers for isolated traumatic. Hand. 2011;6(3):235–43.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Raveendran SS, Syed M, Shibu M. Toe-to-hand transfer in a severely burned upper limb: a surgical dilemma. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2009;62(11):e463–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang J, Xie Z, Lei Y, Song J, Guo Q, Xiao J. Free second toe one-stage-plasty and transfer for thumb or finger reconstruction. Microsurgery. 2008;28(1):25–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Lipový B, Rihová H, Kaloudová Y, Suchánek I, Gregorová N, Hokynková A. The Importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of mutilating electrical injury: a case study. Acta Chir Plast. 2010;52(2):61–64.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Jackson DM. The diagnosis of the depth of burning. Br J Surg. 1953;40(16):588–96.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hussmann J, Kucan JO, Russell RC, Bradley T, Zamboni WA. Electrical injuries- morbidity, outcome and treatment rationale. Burns. 1995;21(7):530–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Laberge LC, Ballard PA, Daniel RK. Experimental electrical burns: low voltage. Ann Plast Surg. 1984;13:185–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Foucher G, Smith D, Pempinello C, Braun FM, Citron N. Homodigital neurovascular island flaps for digital pulp loss. J Hand Surg, Br. 1989;12(2):204–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kim HD, Hwang SM, Lim KR, Jung YH, Ahn SM, Song JK. Toe transfer for reconstruction of damaged digits due to electrical burns. Arch Plast Surg. 2012;39:138–42.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Deglise B, Botta Y. Microsurgical free toe pulp transfer for digital reconstruction. Ann Plast Surg. 1991;26(4):341–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Foucher G, Nagle DJ. Microsurgical reconstruction of fingers and fingertips. Hand Clin. 1999;15(4):597–606.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. American Burn Association, National Burn Repository® 2013. Version 9.0. http://www.ameriburn.org/2013NBRAnnualReport.pdf.

  22. Hardwicke J, Hunter T, Staruch R, Moiemen N. Chemical burns-an historical comparison and review of the literature. Burns. 2012;38(3):383–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Curreri PW, Asch MJ, Pruitt BA. The treatment of chemical burns: specialized diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic considerations. J Trauma. 1970;10(8):634–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Murray JF. Cold, chemical, and irradiation injuries. In: McCarthy JG, May JW, Littler JW, editors. Plastic surgery. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1990. p. 5436–7.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Chick LR, Lister GD. Emergency management of thermal, electrical, and chemical burns. In: Kasdan ML, editor. Occupational hand and upper extremity injuries and diseases. Philadelphia: Hanley and Belfus; 1991. p. 265–9.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Dibbell DG, Iverson RE, Jones W, Laub DR, Madison MS. Hydrofluoric acid burns of the hand. J Bone Joint Surg. 1970;52(5):931–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Wilson GR, Davidson PM. Full-thickness burns from ready-mix cement. Burns Incl Therm Inj. 1985;12(2):139–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Bracker MD. Environmental and thermal injury. Clin Sports Med. 1992;11(2):419–36.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Christenson C, Stewart C. Frostbite. Am Fam Physician. 1984;30(6):111–22.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Murphy JV, Banwell PE, Roberts AH, McGrouther DA. Frostbite: pathogenesis and treatment. J Trauma. 2000;48(1):171–89.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. McCauley RL, Heggers JP, Robson MC. Frostbite: methods to minimize tissue loss. Postgrad Med. 1990;88(8):67–77.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Mohr WJ, Jenabzadeh K, Ahrenholz DH. Cold injury. Hand Clin. 2009;25:481–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Bruen KJ, Ballard JR, Morris SE, Cochran A, Edelman LS, Saffle JR. Reduction of the incidence of amputation in frostbite injury with thrombolytic therapy. Arch Surg. 2007;142:546–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. McCrary BF, Hursh TA. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for a delayed frostbite injury. Wounds. 2005;17(12):321–31.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Cauchy E, Marsigny B, Allamel G, et al. The value of technetium 99 scinitgraphy in the prognosis of amputation in severe frostbite injuries of the extremities: a retrospective study of 92 severe frostbite injuries. J Hand Surg. 2000;25A:969–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Nakazato T, Ogino T. Epiphyseal destruction of children’s hands after frostbite: a report of two cases. J Hand Surg (Am). 1986;11(2):289–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Donelan MB, Garcia JA. Nailfold reconstruction for correction of burn fingernail deformity. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2006;117:2303–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Achauer BM, Wel RA. One-stage reconstruction of the postburn nailfold contracture. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1990;85(6):937–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Doyle JR. Extensor tendons - acute injuries. In: Green DP, Hotchkiss RN editors. Operative Hand Surgery, 3rd edition. New York: Churchill Livingstone. 1993. p 1934.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Schuind F, Van Genechten F, Denuit P, Merle M, Foucher G. Homodigital neurovascular island flaps in hand surgery. A study of sixty cases. Ann Chir Main. 1985;4(4):306–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Kostopoulos E, Casoli V, Verolino P, Papadopoulos O. Arterial blood supply of the extensor apparatus of the long fingers. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2006;117:2310–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Rahmanian-Schwarz A, Schiefer J, Amr A, Schaller HE, Hirt B. Vascularized tendon incorporated in reverse homodigital and heterodigital island flaps for the reconstruction of dorsal digital defects. Microsurgery. 2012;32:178–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Schiefer JL, Schaller HE, Rahmanian-Schwarz A. Dorsal metacarpal artery flaps with extensor indices tendons for reconstruction of digital defects. J Investig Surg. 2012;25:340–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin J. Malone MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Malone, K., Jordan, R., Kaufman, B. (2015). Fingertip Burns. In: Rozmaryn, L. (eds) Fingertip Injuries. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13227-3_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13227-3_9

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-13226-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-13227-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics