The skin on the back of the hand is about a millimeter thick, with tendons and joints right beneath it, so a burn here can threaten motion more than the same burn elsewhere. Common causes are hot water and steam, hot oil and grease, hot surfaces and flame, and chemicals, at work and in the kitchen or garage. Swelling and holding the hand still can cause stiffness even when the burn was not deep. Most hand burns treated here are work injuries, and workers' compensation cases are welcome.
Warning signs
- Numbness in the burned skin: a warning sign, not relief
- Rapid swelling or a ring that is getting tight
- Pain that keeps increasing after the first day
- A burn that is still open or weeping after 2 weeks
- Fingers starting to curl or stiffen, or a scar that is tightening
- Electrical injuries and large or deep burns: go to the nearest emergency room
Treatment
First aid starts right away. Remove rings and watches, then cool the burn under cool, not cold, running water for 20 minutes. No ice, butter, oil or toothpaste, and do not break blisters. Cover it loosely with a clean non-stick dressing and keep the hand raised. For chemical burns, first brush off dry powders such as cement, then rinse for 30 minutes or longer. At the visit, depth is judged by appearance and sensation and rechecked at 48 to 72 hours. Care ranges from dressings, splinting and early motion to skin grafts for deep burns, and later surgery to release tight scar when needed.
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Questions patients ask
What is a hand burn?
The skin on the back of the hand is about a millimeter thick, with tendons and joints right beneath it, so a burn here can threaten motion more than the same burn elsewhere. Common causes are hot water and steam, hot oil and grease, hot surfaces and flame, and chemicals, at work and in the kitchen or garage. Swelling and holding the hand still can cause stiffness even when the burn was not deep. Most hand burns treated here are work injuries, and workers' compensation cases are welcome.
What are the warning signs of a hand burn?
Numbness in the burned skin: a warning sign, not relief. Rapid swelling or a ring that is getting tight. Pain that keeps increasing after the first day. A burn that is still open or weeping after 2 weeks. Fingers starting to curl or stiffen, or a scar that is tightening. Electrical injuries and large or deep burns: go to the nearest emergency room.
How is a hand burn treated?
First aid starts right away. Remove rings and watches, then cool the burn under cool, not cold, running water for 20 minutes. No ice, butter, oil or toothpaste, and do not break blisters. Cover it loosely with a clean non-stick dressing and keep the hand raised. For chemical burns, first brush off dry powders such as cement, then rinse for 30 minutes or longer. At the visit, depth is judged by appearance and sensation and rechecked at 48 to 72 hours. Care ranges from dressings, splinting and early motion to skin grafts for deep burns, and later surgery to release tight scar when needed.
Who treats a hand burn near Southlake and Dallas-Fort Worth?
Dr. Pedro Loredo, a board-certified hand surgeon (General Surgery, American Board of Surgery; Hand Surgery, American Board of Plastic Surgery) at Loredo Hand Care Institute, 431 E State Hwy 114, Suite 380, Southlake, TX. New patients are seen within days. Call (972) 939-4974. Se habla español.
En español: ¿Se quemó la mano? Los primeros 10 minutos importan
La piel del dorso de la mano mide alrededor de un milímetro de grosor y justo debajo están los tendones y las articulaciones, por eso una quemadura aquí puede afectar el movimiento. Las causas comunes son el agua caliente y el vapor, el aceite y la grasa calientes, las superficies calientes y el fuego, y los químicos, en el trabajo y en la cocina o el garaje. Muchas son lesiones de trabajo; aceptamos casos de compensación laboral.
Señales de alerta
- Piel quemada adormecida: es una señal de alarma, no de alivio
- Hinchazón rápida o un anillo que se está apretando
- Dolor que sigue aumentando después del primer día
- Una quemadura que sigue abierta o supurando después de 2 semanas
- Dedos que se ponen rígidos o una cicatriz que se tensa
- Lesiones eléctricas y quemaduras grandes o profundas: vaya a la sala de urgencias más cercana
Tratamiento
Los primeros auxilios empiezan de inmediato. Quítese anillos y reloj y enfríe la quemadura con agua corriente fresca, no helada, por 20 minutos. Nada de hielo, mantequilla, aceite ni pasta de dientes, y no reviente las ampollas. Cúbrala sin apretar con un apósito limpio que no se pegue y eleve la mano. En quemaduras químicas, primero sacuda los polvos secos como el cemento y luego enjuague 30 minutos o más. En la consulta se evalúa la profundidad y se revisa de nuevo a las 48 a 72 horas. El tratamiento va desde curaciones, férulas y movimiento temprano hasta injertos de piel y, si hace falta, cirugía para liberar cicatrices tensas.
If this sounds like your hand
Call Loredo Hand Care Institute or start your forms online. New patients are seen within days; surgery, when needed, is scheduled at the first available opening. Se habla español.