External Fixation During the Acute Phase of Deep Burned Hands: Description of Saint Louis’ Burn Center technique

Restauration of a good hand function and limitation of the sequeale are the main concerns in burns treatment. The intrinsic plus position is known as the safe position for hand splinting. This article aims at describing the technique of external fixation that have been developped in Saint Louis' Burn Center in management of burned hands during the acute phase. Since 2013, a technique of external fixation has been developped in our burn center using Hoffmann II External Fixation System from Stryker(R) and pins from Medicalex(R). External fixation of a deep burned hand is a efficient and safe way to immobilize the hand in a correct intrinsic plus position, to secure the skin grafts in order to improve graft take and to permit changes of the dressings without removing the immobilization device.