Results of early excision and full-thickness grafting of deep palm burns in children. 2001

T N Pham, and C Hanley, and T Palmieri, and D G Greenhalgh
Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California, and University of California, Sacramento 95817, USA.

The timing and method of treatment of deep palm and finger burns varies widely. Our protocol involves performing full-thickness skin grafts (FTSG) in nonhealing palm burns. We reviewed the functional and cosmetic results after FTSG to the palm. From August 1997 to April 1999, 11 patients (12 palms) underwent excision and FTSG within 2 weeks of injury. A panel of medical and nonmedical professionals evaluated follow-up pictures of the grafts at 1, 2 to 4, and beyond 4 months. Parameters used for evaluation were color match with the unburned skin (1 = no difference to 4 = large difference), graft thickness (1 = flat to 4 = markedly raised), overall appearance (1 = poor to 100 = excellent), and time to maturity. Hand function, as assessed by occupational therapy notes, was also recorded. All 12 grafted palms had a 100% take and healed with minimal scarring. Mean color match scores were 2.4 at 1 month, 1.8 at 2 to 4 months, and 1.6 beyond 4 months. On the graft thickness scale, grafts were given scores of 2.6, 2.2, and 1.9 during the same intervals. The overall appearance was 71 at 1 month, 81 at 2 to 4 months, and 85 beyond 4 months. All grafts except 1 were judged to be mature at 2 to 4 months follow-up. Full passive range of motion was attained in all grafted hands within the period of 2 to 4 months after operation. Early excision and FTSG of deep pediatric palm burns can be performed in the outpatient setting. The grafts have an acceptable color match, are minimally raised, and achieve excellent cosmetic result. The grafts mature within a few months after surgery to allow for rapid return to normal range of motion. FTSG should be considered as a first choice for deep palm burns.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D008297 Male Males
D002056 Burns Injuries to tissues caused by contact with heat, steam, chemicals (BURNS, CHEMICAL), electricity (BURNS, ELECTRIC), or the like. Burn
D002140 California State bounded on the east by Nevada and Arizona, on the south by Mexico and the Pacific Ocean on the south and west, and on the north by Oregon.
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004954 Esthetics The branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of the beautiful. It includes beauty, esthetic experience, esthetic judgment, esthetic aspects of medicine, etc. Aesthetics
D005069 Evaluation Studies as Topic Works about studies that determine the effectiveness or value of processes, personnel, and equipment, or the material on conducting such studies. Critique,Evaluation Indexes,Evaluation Methodology,Evaluation Report,Evaluation Research,Methodology, Evaluation,Pre-Post Tests,Qualitative Evaluation,Quantitative Evaluation,Theoretical Effectiveness,Use-Effectiveness,Critiques,Effectiveness, Theoretical,Evaluation Methodologies,Evaluation Reports,Evaluation, Qualitative,Evaluation, Quantitative,Evaluations, Qualitative,Evaluations, Quantitative,Indexes, Evaluation,Methodologies, Evaluation,Pre Post Tests,Pre-Post Test,Qualitative Evaluations,Quantitative Evaluations,Report, Evaluation,Reports, Evaluation,Research, Evaluation,Test, Pre-Post,Tests, Pre-Post,Use Effectiveness
D005260 Female Females
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006085 Graft Survival The survival of a graft in a host, the factors responsible for the survival and the changes occurring within the graft during growth in the host. Graft Survivals,Survival, Graft,Survivals, Graft

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