[Impairment of the skeletal growth of the hands after electrical burns in childhood].

Fourteen children with electrical burns involving 33 fingers were followed for a period of more than 8 years. Primary treatment was conservative in 17 fingers, of which 11 required surgery at a later date. Adequate function was restored in 12 fingers after completion of this treatment and persisted for 8 years and more. In 5 fingers substantial joint deformities developed. For 16 fingers surgery was required as primary treatment. Bone involvement was present in 10 of these. Secondary surgery proved to be necessary in 2 fingers, on one aseptic necrosis necessitated replacement by a bone graft. All of the 16 fingers showed good function in the period under review. There was no radiological evidence of deformities, but growth was substantially slower than normal. Apparently coverage of exposed bone with well vascularized tissue improved local blood flow so that damage other than that originally produced by the electrical burns was prevented.