To compare the outcomes of two different blood loss prevention modalities during escharectomy and skin transplantation in full-thickness hand burn patients.

Thirty patients with 32 full-thickness hand burns (two patients were injured with both hands) who need escharectomy and skin transplantation were divided randomly into two groups, i. e. test group with tourniquet applied during the escharectomy and skin transplantation period, and control group with temporary application of tourniquet during the escharectomy procedure, each group consisted of 16 hands. Operation time, postoperative blood routine results and amount of blood loss, take rate of skin graft and area of hematoma of grafted skin of two groups were documented and analyzed.

No statistical significance was found between two groups on results of red blood cell count [(4.16 ± 0.53)×10¹²/L versus (4.00 ± 0.50)×10¹²/L) for test group and control group, respectively], hemoglobin [(124.14 ± 8.63)g/L versus (120.29 ± 7.53) g/L) for test group and control group, respectively], blood loss [(6.73 ± 1.58)mL versus (7.02 ± 1.17) mL for test group and control group, respectively] and area of hematoma of grafted skin [(2.63 ± 2.60) cm² versus (3.45 ± 2.15) cm² for test group and control group, respectively]. The operation time cost in test group was significantly shorter than that in control group [(39.14 ± 6.67) min versus (59.14 ± 4.79) min, respectively, t=-0.90, P=0.000]. Moreover, the take rate of grafted skin in test group was significantly higher than that in control group [(96.25 ± 3.37)% versus (95.51 ± 2.25)%, t=0.729, P=0.015].

Continuous application of tourniquet during escharectomy and skin transplantation in full-thickness hand burn patients could shorten the operation time and increase the take rate of grafted skin. However, no statistical significance was noted on the changes of blood routine test and formation of hematoma after operation.