Long-term medical treatment of patients with severe burns at exposed sites.

backgroundBody parts such as the face and hands are highly exposed during daily life and burns may accumulate in these areas. In addition, residual wounds, scar hyperplasia and contracture often exist in the late stage of a deep burn in these areas, which may affect patients' appearance, movements, and mental health. However, inadequate attention has been paid to this issue which can result in problems, such as difficulty in healing, possibility of carcinoma, chronic pain and a heavy mental burden.

aimTo investigate the long-term medical treatment of patients with severe burns at exposed sites following a mass burn casualty event.

methodsA retrospective analysis of 13 patients with severe burns at exposed sites was performed to determine their respective long-term medical treatment. A combined wound dressing scheme consisting of traditional Chinese and Western medicine was introduced to repair residual wounds. Active and passive functional exercises with massage, Chinese herbal baths and compression fixation were proposed to ameliorate the condition of the hands. A combination of physical, chemical and photoelectrical measures was adopted for anti-scar treatment. A psychological intervention and recovery guide was provided which corresponded to the patients' psychological status.

resultsCompared to patients who did not simultaneously receive the same treatment, patients who underwent systematic treatment recovered with a lower wound infection rate (

conclusionA better prognosis can be achieved in patients in the late stage of a burn with active residual wound repair, limb functional exercise, anti-scar and psychological rehabilitation.