Alexei Volkov
Plastic surgeons are qualified to treat burn patients and help them regain their confidence. They can provide acute burn care, such as burn debridement, skin grafts, and amputations, as well as secondary burn care, including scar revisions, flaps, and tissue expansion. The goal of reconstructive burn surgery is to improve both the function and the cosmetic appearance of burn scars. This involves altering scar tissue through non-operative and operative treatments.
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What You'll Learn
Plastic surgeons can perform skin grafts to treat burns
Plastic surgeons play a crucial role in improving the quality of life for burn survivors. They can perform skin grafts, a type of surgery where healthy skin is taken from one part of the body and transplanted to cover damaged or missing skin. This procedure is often used for burn patients to facilitate healing and improve appearance.
Skin grafts are particularly useful for severe burns that require quick healing and minimal scarring. Deep second-degree and third-degree burns, also known as full-thickness burns, are unable to naturally replace damaged skin cells, making skin grafts an essential treatment option. The healthy skin transplanted during a skin graft acts as a substitute for the body's own skin, aiding in the regeneration process.
There are two main types of skin grafts: split-thickness grafts and full-thickness grafts. In a split-thickness graft, only a few layers of outer skin are transplanted, while a full-thickness graft involves transplanting all layers of the skin, including the dermis. The type of graft chosen depends on the extent and nature of the burn injury.
Plastic surgeons also employ different techniques for skin grafts, such as sheet grafts and meshed skin grafts. Sheet grafts are often used for smaller burns or when there is ample donor skin available. They are more durable and scar less but may suffer from fluid buildup, leading to potential graft failure. On the other hand, meshed skin grafts are used for larger wounds as they allow the skin from the donor site to be stretched and cover a more extensive area.
It is important to note that skin grafts are not the only treatment option for burns. Plastic surgeons also perform secondary burn care, such as scar revision, to help reduce the appearance of burns and improve the patient's range of motion. Additionally, tissue expansion is another effective method to minimize scarring by encouraging the body to grow new tissue over the burned area.
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They can also perform amputations
Plastic surgeons play a crucial role in improving the quality of life for burn survivors. They can provide acute burn care, such as skin grafts and applications, as well as secondary burn care, like scar revision, to help reduce the appearance of burns and improve movement in joints and muscles.
In addition to burn care and reconstructive surgery, plastic surgeons also perform amputations. Amputation surgery involves the removal of diseased or damaged limbs, such as the hands, feet, arms, or legs. The decision to perform an amputation considers the patient's mobility, sensation, and appearance. Plastic surgeons work as part of a multidisciplinary team, including orthopaedic surgeons, nurses, and surgical technologists, to carry out this complex procedure.
During the amputation process, surgeons not only remove the affected limb but also pay close attention to the remaining bone and soft tissue. They shape the stump to accommodate a prosthetic or leave bone in place for subsequent osseointegration. Additionally, they address the nerves that carry sensations to the brain, reducing the risk of pain and phantom sensations post-amputation.
One specific type of amputation procedure is rotationplasty, which is often chosen for patients with tumours in the bone or soft tissue. In this procedure, surgeons remove the cancerous part of the limb and reattach the remaining healthy tissue by rotating and reconnecting it. This technique can enable patients to use a prosthetic and regain mobility, allowing them to participate in activities and sports.
Plastic surgeons are involved in amputation cases due to their expertise in restoring form and function. They play a vital role in addressing issues related to the shape of the stump, such as soft tissue rearrangement, osteocutaneous adhesions, and poor soft tissue coverage. Their involvement ensures better outcomes for patients, both functionally and aesthetically.
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Plastic surgeons can help improve mobility and reduce scarring
Plastic surgery is often associated with aesthetics and improving one's appearance. However, it can also positively impact physical health and functionality, especially in the case of burn victims. Plastic surgeons who specialize in burn care treatment can provide acute burn care, such as skin grafts, and secondary burn care, like scar revision, to help reduce the appearance of burns and improve mobility.
Burn scars can restrict the movement of muscles, joints, and tendons, causing physical disabilities and chronic pain. Plastic surgeons can perform scar revision surgery to minimize the appearance of scars and improve mobility. This involves removing excess scar tissue that may be restricting movement. Tissue expansion is another technique used by plastic surgeons to reduce scarring. This method encourages the body to stretch and grow a new layer of tissue over the burned area, which can result in better mobility and reduced scarring.
In addition to treating burn scars, plastic surgeons can also address functional issues affecting respiratory health through procedures such as rhinoplasty, or nose reshaping. This procedure can reduce or reshape the nose, remove nasal obstructions, or repair a deviated septum, improving oxygen intake and sleep quality.
Plastic surgery can also improve mobility for individuals with disproportionately large breasts, which can cause chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain, as well as poor posture. Breast reduction surgery can alleviate these issues by removing glandular tissue and excess fat, resulting in smaller and lighter breasts. This procedure can improve patients' mobility and overall physical health, allowing them to engage in more physical activities.
It is important to note that the decision to undergo plastic surgery should be based on improving physical health, correcting specific concerns, or enhancing one's appearance for oneself rather than pleasing others. Consulting a qualified plastic surgeon is essential to determine the most appropriate procedure based on individual expectations and health assessments.
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They can perform acute and reconstructive burn surgery
Plastic surgeons who specialise in burn care treatment can perform acute and reconstructive burn surgery. Acute burn care occurs immediately after a burn injury and is carried out by a team of trauma surgeons. Complex burns often require consultation with plastic surgeons, who assist with the inpatient and outpatient management of these cases.
Large burns or burns in critical areas, such as hands, should be treated at a specialist burn centre, like the Trauma Burn Centre at the University of Michigan. Reconstructive burn surgery is usually provided by a plastic surgeon after the initial burn wounds have healed. The goal of reconstructive burn surgery is to improve the function and cosmetic appearance of burn scars. This involves altering scar tissue, with both non-operative and operative treatments.
Non-operative treatments include scar massage, the application of pressure garments, and other topical therapies. Operative treatments include skin grafts, skin rearrangement (Z-plasty), and more complex skin donor flaps. Skin grafts involve removing skin from one area of the body and transplanting it to the burn area. There are two types of skin graft: split-thickness grafts, where only a few layers of outer skin are transplanted, and full-thickness grafts, where all layers of the dermis are transplanted. Split-thickness grafts have a faster recovery time, usually less than three weeks.
Plastic surgeons are constantly innovating and improving their surgical techniques to help burn patients. For example, fractional CO2 laser therapy is a promising non-invasive treatment that uses laser energy to break down scar tissue, revealing softer and smoother skin. Laser treatment can also reduce pain by decreasing inflammation and improving the range of motion for patients with burn-related stiffness.
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Laser therapy is a promising treatment for burn scars
Burns can be traumatic, and the resulting scars can be a constant reminder of a difficult event. While plastic surgeons play a crucial role in burn care treatment, laser therapy has emerged as a promising treatment option for burn scars. This innovative approach offers several benefits, including faster healing, improved cosmetic appearance, and reduced pain and discomfort.
Laser therapy for burn scars has been developed by medical professionals, including Maxwell Johnson, MD, Jeremy Goverman, MD, and Haig Yenikomshian, MD, in collaboration with the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC). The procedure has been reviewed and approved by experts from the Burn Model System (BMS) centers, funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).
The primary goal of laser therapy is to make burn scars look and feel more like normal skin. Lasers create a focused and energetic beam of a single color of light. When used for medical treatments, lasers stimulate the growth of new tissue. In the context of burn scars, the laser beam breaks down the scar tissue, encouraging the growth of new, healthy skin. This process helps to restore the skin's function, improve its appearance, and reduce pain.
Fractional CO2 laser therapy is a specific type of laser treatment that is effective for both adults and children suffering from burn scars. It is a non-invasive approach that can treat new, old, and severe scars, including hypertrophic scars, which are thick, stiff, and raised. This type of scar can cause tightness and impact the body's range of motion, especially near joints. Fractional CO2 laser therapy breaks down the scar tissue, leading to softer and smoother skin, improved mobility, and reduced pain.
While laser therapy is a promising treatment, it is important to consult with a doctor or a specialist, such as a plastic surgeon, to determine the most suitable course of action for an individual's specific needs. Each patient's condition is unique, and the number of laser therapy sessions required can vary. Additionally, insurance approval may be required, and a doctor's recommendation for laser treatment can facilitate this process.
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Frequently asked questions
Reconstructive burn surgery is performed to improve the function and cosmetic appearance of burn scars. It involves altering scar tissue with both non-operative and operative treatments. Non-operative treatments include scar massage, application of pressure garments, and other topical therapies. Operative treatments include scar release procedures, skin grafts, skin rearrangement, and more complex skin donor flaps.
Skin grafts involve removing skin from one area of the body and transplanting it to another. There are two types of skin grafts: split-thickness grafts, where only a few layers of outer skin are transplanted, and full-thickness grafts, where all layers of the dermis are involved. The donor site is covered with a dressing to prevent infection, and the graft is held in place with a dressing and stitches.
Plastic surgery can improve the appearance of burn scars and increase the patient's range of motion by improving the function of muscles, joints, and tendons. It can also reduce the pain and itching that many burn patients experience.
