a patient having a burn injury is introduced into the outer cover 12 via the end 8 re sealable opening 4 may then be opened and folded back to expose the injured hand the hand is then introduced into the porous pad which may be pre assembled or assembled in situ around the injured hand in the latter case it may be convenient to fix the upper section 26 to the lower base 24 by suturing or stapling rather than gluing or welding the foam with the foam pad in place encompassing the injured hand the cover 12 is drawn over the porous pad and the opening 4 re sealed spout 102 is then connected by a tube to a suction pump e g using the technique described in wo 97 108007 pulsed intermittent or continuous negative pressure may be applied to the patient 39 s hand in accordance with a program which may be controlled automatically by a control device associated with the pump as described in our above patent application negative pressure therapy using the apparatus of the invention has been found to stimulate healing of burns and to reduce the progression of cell death beneath a burn injury also by improving blood flow to the wound area infection is controlled and granulation of the wound is stimulated one additional beneficial effect of therapy using the apparatus of this invention is that during therapy the hand is held firmly in a half closed position which is the optimum position for promotion of healing this can be further encouraged by the introduction of a rigid or semi rigid splint e g of plastics which is formed or molded.