Pediatric skin is thinner and has not yet developed the thickened palmar epidermis of an adult.³

Dorsal skin is thin and pliable and provides less protection for underlying extensor tendons and bone.

Thin dorsal skin places underlying structures at particular risk for exposure and stiffness.

Extensor tendons are particularly at risk at the PIP joints where the central slip may attenuate or rupture with exposure, resulting in a boutonniere deformity.

Burned hands tend to assume a position of wrist flexion, MCP hyperextension, PIP flexion, thumb adduction, and interphalangeal hyperextension.⁴

Early elevation, splinting, and escharotomies when indicated affect postburn edema and help prevent the development of burn contractures.

Altered sensation and motor and nerve function may occur secondary to the burn.

Untreated or inadequately treated hand burns frequently result in contractures and long-term functional impairment.

Early involvement of a multidisciplinary team with aggressive elevation, splinting, hand therapy, and early excision and grafting for deep burns is essential.

Hand burns that are unlikely to heal within 2 weeks of injury should undergo tangential excision and skin grafting.⁵

Palmar burns are more likely than dorsal burns to heal spontaneously from glabrous skin appendages and may be less likely to require grafting.

Approximately 78% of pediatric palm burns heal without the need for grafting; however, flexion contractures of the fingers and/or shortening of the thenar-hypothenar distance may occur when burns take greater than 2 to 3 weeks to heal.^6,7

Secondary burn deformities may occur as a child grows because burn scars do not grow at the same rate as the rest of the child’s hand and may impede overall bone and soft tissue growth.³

Secondary burn deformities include intrinsic minus deformities (“claw hand”); palmar cupping deformity; web space deformities; hypertrophic scars and/or scar bands; finger deformities including boutonniere, swan neck and mallet deformities; and deformities of the nail.⁸

Evaluation of the location, size, depth, and previous treatment of the burn

Mechanism of injury (thermal, contact, chemical, electrical)

Previous splinting and hand therapy

Nature of the contracture (extension, flexion)

Skin and soft tissue adequacy and contracture

Tendon function—flexor and extensor

Assessment of sensation and vascular status of the hand and digits

Joint contractures—passive and active range of motion

Bony deformities and inadequate growth

Assessment of the entire upper extremity

Plain radiographs of the hands and digits should be assessed for bony deformities, joint contractures, or destruction.

Surgical intervention is warranted for functionally significant contractures not improving with stretching and splinting.³

Multiple surgeries may be required as a child grows for recurrent contractures.

Thumb reconstruction