Clinical Experience in Management of Facial Burns-Review of 350 Cases

Abstract

Management and reconstruction of facial burns is one of the most important and difficult elements in rehabilitation of the burned patient. A review of 350 patients with facial burns admitted to our burn unit is carried out during the 5 years from Dec. 1987 through Dec. 1992. The majority of patients are men, 279 cases (79.7%). The mean age is 26 years (range: 2 months-82 years). The mean total facial burned area is 3.4% (range: 0.3%-9%), then scalding 73 cases (20.9%), chemicals 34 cases (9.7%), electricals 18 cases (5%) and steam 2 cases (0.6%). According to the anatomic position, facial burn is easily complicated with inhalation injury (24 cases, 6.9%), which was confirmed by brochoscopy. Most of our patients 222 cases (63.4%) could be treated conservatively, with the others required further reconstructive procedures including STSG, FTSG, flaps, tissue expansion, scar revision... etc. The overall mortality rate is 2.9% (10 cases).