Timing and Extent of Tangential Excision may significantly impact Burn Patient Outcomes, reveals study

These findings were validated through Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, which confirmed that delayed surgeries and excessively large excision areas were associated with a higher incidence of complications and poorer overall survival. External validation using a 10-year dataset of 144 severely burned patients reinforced these outcomes.

Also, this study underlined the importance of wound coverage methods. The patients with greater use of autografts (skin grafts from the patient’s own body) demonstrated significantly better survival rates when compared to those relying on temporary skin substitutes. However, the choice of coverage was influenced by factors like the severity of the injury, the availability of autologous skin, and resource constraints at the treatment center.

The subgroup analysis revealed that hemodynamic stability, hospital resources, and the availability of treatment modalities influenced the timing and surgical area. Tailored treatment approaches are recommended to address individual patient needs and the challenges posed by limited autologous skin or intensive care resources. Overall, this research highlighted the importance of initiating tangential excision within 3 days and limiting the excised area during the first surgery to under 48% TBSA for severely burned patients.

Source:

Huang, R., Yao, Y., Xie, S., Li, J., Zhang, W., Liu, Y., Xian, S., Sun, H., Wu, G., He, H., Li, L., Wu, X., Li, Y., Zhang, H., Lu, B., Zhou, J., Zhou, Y., Xu, D., Xia, Z., & Ji, S. (2025). Optimal timing and approaches for first tangential excision in patients with ≥70% TBSA burns: Insights from a retrospective cohort of a mass casualty incident. Annals of Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1097/sla.0000000000006626