The early enzymatic debridement and grafting of deep dermal burns to the hand.

Thirty-four hands in 24 patients with clinically diagnosed, deep second-degree burns have been treated for 24 hours, immediately after the burn with Sutilains bacterial enzymatic ointment. The ages of the patients range from 16 months to 65 years. Follow-up was from 3 to 12 months. After 24 hours' treatment with the enzyme, the patient is taken to the operating room, where the soft eschar is scraped from the wound and thin split-thickness grafts are applied. Ninety-one percent had full take of the grafts and were able to move their hands actively and passively through a full range of movement within 1 week after the burn. The long-term aesthetic and functional results were excellent.