Surgical treatment of contracture and syndactyly of children with epidermolysis bullosa.

A new approach to the operative treatment of syndactyly and contracture of the hands of children with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa is described. It is based upon the principle of surgical release of fingers allowing spontaneous epithelialisation of skin wounds without using skin grafts. Nineteen children had operations using this method, with an incidence of recurrence of 53%. This method has the advantage of a short operating time, simple technique and limited trauma.