Burn wound management is the specialist care of burns caused by heat, scalds, chemicals, electricity or radiation. It aims to prevent infection, speed healing and limit scarring. Depending on burn depth, treatment ranges from dressings and collagen sheets to skin grafts, microsurgical flaps and tissue expansion.
- AnaesthesiaGeneral for grafting
- DurationTypically 1 to 3 hours, depending on area
- Hospital stayUsually a few days to weeks, depending on burn size
- Back to routineTypically 3 to 4 weeks after grafting
What is burn wound management?
Burns result from heat, chemicals, electricity or radiation; scalds are burns from hot liquid or steam. Good wound care prevents infection and supports healing. Most burns heal on their own, but complex and major burns need specialist, multidisciplinary care.
Burns are classified by depth. First-degree burns affect only the outer skin, are red, dry and painful, and usually heal without treatment. Superficial partial-thickness burns involve the epidermis and upper dermis, are moist, red and blistered, and need care to prevent infection and scarring. Deep partial-thickness burns heal slowly, scar more and often need skin grafts. Third-degree burns go through the full dermis, look stiff and white or brown, and need grafts or flaps. Fourth-degree burns extend into fat, muscle and bone, look charred, and need immediate treatment.
Treatment is individualised because no two burn patients are alike. The goals are to improve function and appearance, reduce contractures and scarring, and promote timely healing. Plastic surgery is advised for severe burns that limit mobility, cause loss of sensation or cause disfigurement.
Who is burn wound management for?
- People with unhealed or deep burns
- Patients with hypertrophic or mature scar contractures limiting movement of the neck, shoulder, hands or legs
- People with scars deforming the eyelids, lips, nose or scalp
- Patients with raised, red, itchy (hypertrophic) scars
- Skin grafts suit severe skin loss; flaps suit tissue loss where grafts are not appropriate
How is it done?
- Collagen sheet application for superficial second-degree burns: reduces fluid loss and pain and supports faster healing
- Split-thickness skin grafts, usually from the hip or inner thigh, taken with a dermatome under general anaesthesia
- Full-thickness grafts, usually from the abdominal or chest wall, where donor tissue allows
- Microsurgical flaps to cover areas unlikely to heal with grafts, especially over vital structures
- Tissue expansion with a saline-filled balloon to stretch nearby skin for resurfacing scarred areas
What is recovery like?
- Split-thickness donor sites usually heal within about two weeks
- Grafted areas typically heal within three to four weeks; avoid stretching or injuring the site during this time
- Pressure garments, moisturising (for example with coconut oil or petroleum jelly), physiotherapy and splints as advised
- Colour and texture changes and tingling are normal and usually improve over weeks; grafts keep maturing over months
What are the risks?
- Infection
- Partial or complete graft loss
- Scarring and contracture
- Colour mismatch or uneven texture
- Donor-site discomfort or scarring
Why choose Dr. Jithendran?
- Dual training in orthopaedics (MS) and plastic surgery (MCh, DNB), with hand and microsurgery experience from Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore
- Consults at five hospitals across Bengaluru, with 24×7 availability for emergencies
- Clear explanations in English, Tamil, Hindi and Telugu, and time to answer every question
- Strict sterilisation and patient-privacy standards
Frequently asked questions
How do I know how deep my burn is?
Superficial burns are red and painful, partial-thickness burns are moist and blistered, and full-thickness burns look white, brown or leathery and may be less painful. Depth can change over the first few days, so a doctor should assess any burn that is blistered, large or slow to heal.
When does a burn need a skin graft?
Deep partial-thickness and full-thickness burns usually cannot heal well on their own in a reasonable time. Grafting covers the wound sooner, lowers the risk of infection and reduces contracture and scarring. Superficial burns usually heal with dressings or a collagen sheet.
Where is the skin for a graft taken from?
Split-thickness grafts are usually taken from the hip or inner thigh with a dermatome, and the donor site usually heals within about two weeks. Full-thickness grafts are taken from the abdominal or chest wall, and the donor area is closed with stitches.
How should I prepare for burn surgery?
You will need an anaesthesia assessment and blood tests. Avoid medicines such as aspirin that raise bleeding risk and herbal supplements that may affect recovery, and fast for a few hours before surgery as instructed to lower the risk of nausea.
How do I care for a skin graft after surgery?
Take prescribed pain relief, avoid stretching or injuring the area for three to four weeks, wear pressure garments, moisturise the graft, use splints if advised, and do physiotherapy to restore movement. Return to normal activities once healing is complete.
