Long-term Outcomes after Toe-To-Thumb Transfers for Burn Reconstruction in Children.
Children are one of the most vulnerable populations to burns, and hands are frequently burned anatomical structures. Restoring function in a severely burned pediatric hand is challenging. We present our experience with pediatric toe-to-thumb transfers for burn reconstruction. A retrospective review was conducted of all pediatric toe-to-thumb transfer patients between 2009 and 2014. Children under the age of 18 who underwent secondary reconstruction after electrical or thermal burn injuries with at least 5-year follow-up were included. Functional outcomes were measured with the modified Kapandji score. Complications of the reconstructed hand as well as donor foot were recorded. Four children with 10 toe-to-hand transfers (4 great toes, 2 second toes, and 2 combined second-third toes) met the inclusion criteria. Average follow-up length was 104 months (range 60-144 months) Two children sustained thermal burn injuries and two sustained electrical burn injuries. Three children achieved opposition of the reconstructed toe-to-thumb transfer to the small finger (Kapandji score 5), and one child achieved opposition of the reconstructed toe-to-thumb transfer to the proximal phalanx of the middle finger, the only remaining finger (Kapandji score 3). No donor foot morbidities were noted postoperatively. Toe-to-thumb transfers should be considered the gold standard for thumb reconstruction in children with severe burn injuries of their hands and provide restoration of sensation, pinch, grasp and opposition with minimal morbidity of the donor foot.
['Yoon|Alfred P|AP|', 'Jones|Neil F|NF|']
toe-to-thumb transfer toe-to-hand transfer hand burn pediatric burns