[SavageGlow]

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among Saudi Arabian population is high. Among the burn-related morbidities, thermal injury of the hand is one of the most demanding entities for the burn surgeon to treat. A good number of patients with hand burns are diabetics. Studies regarding the prevalence of diabetes in Middle Eastern countries have shown that 23.7% of adult Saudis in the age of 30-70 years have diabetes, and 14.1% have impaired fasting glucose. There is a fear of impaired wound healing in diabetics with vascular, neuropathic, immunological and biochemical abnormalities, as each contribute to altered tissue repair. It remains a challenge to the treating surgeon to achieve full hand function and an early return to work for these patients. Early tangential excision is an established practice now in burn management, but the application of the same in diabetic population with hand burns needs extra care. A precise estimate of burn depth is essential for planning the most appropriate management of the burned hand. Superficial burns which heal within 2 weeks are nearly always treated conservatively while deep dermal and full-thickness burns require surgical intervention at the most appropriate time. Strict blood sugar control from the start of admission is essential for better outcome in these patients. The purpose of this study is to emphasize that the treatment of deep dermal and full-thickness burns of the dorsum of the hand is essentially not different in diabetics and nondiabetics, provided that relevant care for blood sugar control and more early excision and skin grafting is performed for diabetic patients with hand burn.