Thermal-crush injuries of the hands and forearms: an analysis of 60 cases.

The treatment of injuries inflicted on hands and occasionally forearms by crushing between hot rigid surfaces (thermal crush injury) is usually complex because of the possibility of fractures, nerve and tendon injuries, as well as heat destruction of the skin which also may be macerated. A review of the treatment of 60 patients with thermal crush injuries has defined the more important aspects of treatment including the choice of materials for wound coverage (split thickness skin or tube pedicle tissue graft) and the optimal time for surgical repair of the injury.