Treatment of burns
Burns are mostly caused by hot objects, liquids (scalding), vapours or gases, flames and explosions, severe exposure to sunlight (sunburn), electrical current or friction.
At first, some burns seem less severe than they actually are. In most cases, these sequelae don’t make themselves felt or become visible until later. For that reason, burns usually require medical attention – or, in the case of severe burns, emergency treatment – and immediate admission to a clinic specialising in burns surgery.
Burn injuries which exceed a certain degree often have severe, long-lasting consequences for the person concerned. The severity of burns is classified into four degrees:
- 1st degree Reddening and slight swelling of the skin, pain, epidermis affected, completely reversible
- 2nd degree Blistering with red-white base, severe pain, epidermis and dermis affected, complete healing either without (2a) or with scarring (2b)
- 3rd degree Black-and-white necroses / blisters, no pain, or only very little, as the nerve endings are destroyed, dermis and subcutis affected, irreversible
- 4th degree Carbonisation, no pain, all skin layers and bones / fasciae beneath them affected, irreversible
The consequences of burns often render many years of follow-up treatment and aftercare necessary. For example, exuberant scarring can often result from a burn injury. The scars are not only perceived as unaesthetic, but can also lead to physical restrictions and handicaps.
As burns often extend beyond the joints, the formation of the scars and the contraction of the scar over time (cicatricial contraction) can lead to restrictions of movement or, in the worst case, to a stiffening of the joint(s) concerned.
With burns, it thus comes down on the one hand to the right immediate treatment and, on the other, to professional aftercare to prevent functional restrictions and results which cause aesthetic problems.
In the aftercare of burns, the persons affected come for check-ups on a very regular basis. In particular, value is placed on the monitoring and treatment of the scar development, thanks to which operations can often be avoided.
With our microsurgical treatment methods, we try to reduce the damage caused by burns and achieve results which are aesthetically and functionally appealing. In plastic and reconstructive surgery, various different operation methods and state-of-the-art materials, such as temporary skin replacement substances, are available to us.
DURATION OF OPERATION: 30 minutes or longer
ANAESTHETIC: local or general anaesthetic
HOSPITALISATION: in-patient or out-patient
AFTER-TREATMENT: special compression underwear, scar patches, intralesional corticosteroid therapy
PRESENTABILITY, RETURN TO WORK: after healing
SPORT: after healing
Ask our advice.
We’ll be glad to provide you with detailed information about this treatment. Simply get in touch with us now and obtain advice at an individual and absolutely personal level.
+49 30 - 94 041 144
