Fist position for skin grafting on the dorsal hand: II. Clinical use in deep burns and burn scar contractures

The fundamental problem in all types of hand burns is a loss of skin and subsequent deformities. The goal of skin grafting on the dorsal hand is to graft a sufficient amount of skin, as much as the original amount, and to restore normal hand function without secondary deformities. The safe, or Michigan, position commonly has been used for immobilizing the hand. However, this position is to protect hand function rather than to provide for adequate skin grafting. This institution has developed a new hand position (the fist position) for grafting the greatest amount of skin on the dorsal side of the hand. In the fist position, the hand is positioned flexing all joints of the wrist and the fingers and maximally stretching the dorsal surface of the hand before skin grafting. Ten hands with deep second- or third-degree burn (n = 6) and burn scar contracture (n = 4) of the dorsal hand in eight patients were treated with split-thickness skin grafting after immobilizing in the fist position. The burns and contractures involved nearly the total area of the dorsal hand. The hand was kept in the fist position for 7 to 9 days after skin grafting. Excellent functional and cosmetic results were observed in all cases during the follow-up period of 6 months to 2 years. Complications resulting from hand immobilization for a short period did not occur. The fist position may be a proper hand position for skin grafting to reconstruct the dorsal hand.