Generality: Exposure to elevated or low temperatures (frostbite) or to chemicals causes a burn. Burns are divided in first degree (the skin is red and sensate), second degree (blisters develop and are painful), and third degree (deep tissue damage, skin hard as cowhide and painless). The burned surface area (BSA) is very important for the prognosis and recovery. Second degree burn are the most common and are also very, very painful. Exception for first degree burns, any untreated burn can develop an unsightly scar. The scarring process can be so exuberant to form an hypertrophic scar and a keloid.
Anesthesia: Usually general anesthesia.
Type of Procedure: Mainstay of modern therapy of second and third degree burns is immediate debridment combined with skin graft harvested from the patient. This decreases hospitalization, burn infection rate, pain, and minimal scar formation. Once a scar forms, either hypertrophic scar or keloid, its excision with skin closure by skin graft or flap reveals necessary. Alternatively, irradiation of the scar and the application of scar reducing devices or medications can be tried with inconsistent results.
Recovery Time: It depends on the degree of the burn, the BSA, and any preexisting medical conditions. Usually it is about two-four weeks.
Postoperative Pain: Burn are extremely painful. After surgery, the pain will range from moderate to severe; however its intensity will be much less than that one of the untreated burn and it will slowly subside within days.