Caustic soda burns to the extremities: difficulties in management.

Alkali burns to the extremities are unusual, but they are also a cause of significant morbidity, often because of their late presentation. Their management centres around water lavage, burn debridement and split-skin grafting; there is controversy over the timing of surgery. Three unusual cases of caustic soda burn in adults, and the difficulties encountered in their management, are described, and the literature is reviewed.