Although it represents a small percentage of the body surface, the hand is the most exposed part of the body after the face and neck and is one of the area's most frequently involved in burns. It has a social function, but above all, a functionnal one. An optimized reconstruction of this area after the burn allow the patient to recover the best possible function and increase his chances of returning to professional activity and daily life. Advances in burn treatment, such as improved resuscitation management, rapid excision of burns, skin grafting, regular dressings, and improved metabolic support, have reduced the morbidity and mortality of severe burns. However, significant challenges remain.

The hand is the most frequently involved area in burns and is affected in 90% of severe burns. Hand burns requiring releasing incisions are circular, deep burns and represent a significant functional challenge. In the acute setting, current treatment options must prevent complications associated with disruption of the skin's protective function. In the longer term, these treatments should allow the regeneration of fully functional skin. However, some sequelae may persist in the form of sensory deficits, residual pain, retractile scars hindering function in this highly mobile area, or even aesthetic sequelae.

The aim of our study was to perform a descriptive analysis of the aesthetic and functional sequelae related to hand burns that required acute realeasing incisions using objective and subjective tools available in the medical records (demographic, clinical and follow-up data in the context of routine care). This retrospective, non-interventional, data-driven study would provide an overview of the sequelae of hand burns with current therapies.

• Inclusion Criteria :

  • Adult patients
  • Acute burn (less than 3 days)
  • Burns of one or both hands or finger burns
  • Skin surface burned less than 40% of the body
  • Chemical, thermal, or electrical burns of the hand.
  • Burn that required a skin graft.

• Exclusion Criteria :

  • Patient refusal
  • Less than 1 month follow-up or death within the first month

Adult subjects, who were hospitalized at the Pierre Colson Burn Center (University Hospital) with a hand burn that required discharge incisions between January 2019 and June 2023.