Early Surgical Treatment as a Stage of Prevention of Post-Burn Scar Contractures in Children

A retrospective analysis was conducted involving 143 medical records of children with localized hand burns who were treated at the Burn Department of the Children’s City Clinical Hospital No. 9 (Ekaterinburg) from 2017 to 2024. The patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the nature of their injury: 1 — 38 patients injured by hot liquids; 2 — 97 children who sustained contact injuries through touching hot objects; 3 — 8 children exposed to flame burns. Initially, all patients underwent primary surgical debridement of their skin lesions, which allowed accurate determination of the extent and depth of damage. The average time until surgical treatment began was approximately one day following the incident. Each group had different indications for surgery: among those in groups 2 and 3, about half required surgical interventions (48.5 % and 50.0 %, respectively). It is important to note that timely specialized medical assistance reduces the risk of developing persistent scarring and joint contractures, significantly improves hand function, and enhances the quality of life for children recovering from burns. However, despite the effectiveness of early treatment, some patients needed readmission later on. During this period, 5 children returned for reconstructive surgeries. Thus, the study confirms the importance of prompt response by healthcare professionals to severe hand burns in children, emphasizing the significance of choosing appropriate treatment methods and preventing long-term consequences of trauma to restore hand mobility and improve the quality of life for young patients.