SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY OF 14 PATIENTS AFFLICTED WITH FULL-THICKNESS BURNS FOR MORE THAN 70 PER CENT BODY-SURFACE AREA

Fourteen cases suffering full-thickness burns of more than 70 per cent total body surface area (TBSA) have been successfully treated during the last 8 years (1988-1995). Among these patients, 10 cases suffered from burns of more than 90 per cent TBSA. Five cases had full-thicknes s burns of 80-90 per cent TBSA. Escharectomy, followed by coverage of wounds with a homograft to the lower surface of which, adjacent to the wound bed, microautoskin grafts had been attached was employed to clo se wounds in the early stages after burn. The remaining non-surgically treated wound was treated by exposure and topical silver sulfadiazine . The temperature and humidity of the ward was controlled by air condi tioning and dehumidification. Aggressive excision of eschar and auto-s kingrafting was carried out 3 weeks post-injury. Strictly limiting the uncovered wound to less than 5 per cent appeared to be the major effe ctive measure in preventing burn infection. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd for ISBI. All rights reserved.