[Early-stage conservative removal of scars and delayed skin grafting for severe burns in the neck: report of 13 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To optimize the treatments for severe burns in the neck to prevent the hypertrophy, contraction and deformation of the scars and avoid repeated surgical repair.


METHODS
At the early stage of severe neck burns, conservative removal of the scabs was adopted with a small portion of the necrotic tissues preserved. Wound addressing was performed with anti-infection measures supplemented with the application of agents for dissolving the scars, promoting the epithelial growth and preventing local inflammation. Wound repair with large pieces of autologous skin grafts of medium or full thickness was performed with reasonable delay, after which the neck was fixed with thermoplastic splints.


RESULTS
The wounds of 13 patients in this survey healed smoothly within 3 weeks, and no obvious hypertrophy, contracture or deformation of the scars was observed. The patients complained no restrained movement of the neck, and adhesion did not occur in the chin, neck or the chest.


CONCLUSIONS
The method described above may help promote the healing of the neck burns and reduce the incidences of hypertrophy, contracture and deformation of the scars, which avoids further operations for the repair.
Liu
Hui
H
Department of Burns, People's Hospital of Bao'an District, Shenzhen, China.
Zhang
Xian-wen
XW
Chen
Wu-peng
WP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*