Clinical evaluation of cervicothoracic sympathetic nerve block in the management of burns of the hands

Abstract

These findings indicate that somatic and visceral nerve block can have considerable clinical effects in the treatment of benignant burns of the upper limbs. Its favourable effect seems to affect the time required for healing and the prevention of visceral complications. The effects of this method in the epithelization of the wounds seem less notable, as the types of burns taken into consideration show a good tendency to spontaneous healing, provided that aseptic conditions are maintained in the injured region. In effect, this process seems only accelerated by nerve block as compared with controls and not substantially modified in its anatomic and functional evolution.