Twenty-three patients with 32 burned hands were studied thermographically within 48 h of injury to investigate the potential value of thermography in the assessment of the depth of hand burns. Superficial and deep partial thickness burns were treated conservatively, with excision and grafting of those which had not healed by 2-3 weeks after injury. This delayed surgery group and the healed group were retrospectively analysed to determine the predictive value of the initial clinical and thermographic assessments of the depth of the burns. Full skin thickness burns were excised and grafted within 5 days and were not included in the study. Initial thermographic assessment correctly predicted the outcome (whether healed or excised and grafted) in 33 of 36 burns. This relationship was highly significant. Initial clinical assessment of depth had no significant relationship with the time taken to heal. Thermography may help in the selection of patients who might benefit from early surgery.