Analysis of burned hand function (early versus delayed treatment).

The aim of this study was analyze the results of hand function in adult patients with deep partial thickness hand burns. All patients were treated in Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital in Lithuania during the period 2001-2004.A total of 79 cases were reviewed prospectively. We divided the studied patients into two groups by the envelope method (A group of early and B of delayed necrectomy and plasty). Two treatment methods--early and delayed surgery--have been analyzed. We present results of analysis of hand function in the periods of 3 and 12 months after the burn injuries of the hands.During the study we ascertain that the deficiency of hand function in group A 3 and 12 months after the injury was lower than that in group B. The deficiencies of hand and arm functions decreased over time. After a period of 12 months the deficiency of hand and arm functions in group A reached 12%, while in group B the deficiencies of hand and arm function reached 23% and 26.5%, respectively. The study revealed that the deficiency of hand function because of wrist and hand burn depended on the age of patient, the area of hand burn, time period from the injury to the arriving to a hospital and time to the operation. The strength of digit pinch and hand grasp was larger in group A. Twelve months after the burn the strength measured in A and B groups was larger than that measured 3 months after the burn. The strength of hand grasp in group A in male patients regenerated up to 76%, in female--61% of norm. In group B the strength of hand grasp in male patients regenerated up to 60.8% and in female--39.36%.During the perspective analysis it was determined that after periods of 3 and 12 months after the injury the strength pinch and grip was statistically significantly larger in group A. The deficiency of hand function, which indicates the general hand function, was statistically significantly lower in group A.