TREATMENT OF POST-BURN CICATRICIAL DEFORMITIES AND CONTRACTURES OF THE FINGERS IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Post-burn cicatricial deformities and contractures of the fingers in children remain one of the most pressing problems in pediatric surgery and reconstructive medicine. This pathology leads not only to significant functional impairments but also to aesthetic defects, reduced quality of life, and impaired social adaptation of patients. According to the literature, hand burns account for up to 30% of all thermal injuries, while cicatricial contractures develop in 32% of cases. In deep burns (grade IIIA–IIIB), functional limitations reach 48.5%. The lack of a unified treatment algorithm and the insufficient effectiveness of existing methods necessitate the development of new comprehensive approaches, particularly with the use of modern external fixation techniques.