Return to work following hand burns.

Time to return to work following hand burns was studied in 70 patients in relation to several variables: 1. total body surface area (TBSA) burned; 2. hand burned; 3. grafting; 4. patient age; 5. occupational category. Return to work data were also compared by meta-analysis to data in prior reports on return to work in nonburn hand injuries. Patients were evaluated during their hospital stay on all independent variables, and at 8 months following discharge as to the date of return to work. Of the 70 patients selected for the study, 52 (74%) had returned to work at the 8-month assessment. The best predictor of time to return to work was TBSA burned, followed by "grafting" and "hand burned." No significant differences or predictors were found for patient age, occupational category, or between nonburn hand trauma patients in prior reports. Conclusions are drawn concerning the usefulness of these results in terms of case management and economic impact in hand-burn injuries.