Electrical burns can present with benign skin changes that do not reflect the more devastating internal damages, potentially causing fractures, dislocations, cardiac arrhythmias, and rhabdomyolysis. Of special note, pediatric oral commissure burns from chewing through electrical wires have specific treatment goals that are discussed later in this chapter. They are primarily due to exposure to wiring, but would also include the rare lightning strike. Scald injuries typically result in partial-thickness burns as the fluid splashes off the body, whereas direct contact for prolonged periods can result in full-thickness injury.Įlectrical burns account for a much smaller percentage of admissions for burns but do require special attention. The extent of injury depends on the temperature and duration of exposure. It is important that anyone treating facial burns understands the continuum of care in order to make the best decisions for treating the immediate problem.īurns to the face, like burns in general, can be divided into the following categories: Thermal, electrical, chemical, and radiation. Multiple clinicians are usually involved over the course of treatment, and what one does in the short term affects the options others have in the long term. Burn injuries, especially facial injuries, require a multidisciplinary healthcare team for comprehensive management. We continue to see technological advances that are being applied to burn management, and they could potentially lead to further improvements in morbidity and mortality. Optimal burn management and reconstruction can improve functional and aesthetic outcomes, improving quality of life. This is generally attributed to many factors, including improvements in treatment, safer work environments, and better-engineered consumer products. They require a healthcare team approach to management, which could last months to years.īurn mortality in developed countries has been continually declining over the past few decades. Facial burns have many long-term physical, psychological and social sequelae. By impacting our identity and ability to function normally in society, we significantly diminish our quality of life. Facial burns cause scarring and deformity that extend far deeper than superficial tissue damage. Beyond basic functionality, the human aspect of the face is significant it is central to communication and how we interact with one another. It is also remarkably complex in its anatomy, providing us with sight, hearing, and smell. At its most basic, the face is needed for breathing and oral intake. Patients with facial burns present the clinician with the challenge of treating both functional and aesthetic needs. Beyond mortality, burn injuries are associated with significant morbidity, especially facial burns. Despite the relatively low mortality, burn injuries remain one of the leading causes of accidental death or injury in the U.S. Approximately 7% of these were admitted to the hospital for further management, with a 96.7% survival rate. According to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, nearly half a million burn injuries were treated in U.S.
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