Severe Burn: Prognostic Factors, Management, and Current Updates in Skin Coverage
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Abstract
Severe burns pose significant health, social, and economic challenges worldwide, with affected populations spanning all age groups but particularly vulnerable among children, older adults, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. This review examines the epidemiology, key prognostic factors, and advancements in the management of severe burns. It highlights the importance of early assessment of injury severity, including total body surface area and inhalation injury, to guide treatment strategies. Current management approaches emphasize multidisciplinary care, immediate resuscitation, early wound excision, and novel skin coverage techniques, such as tissue-engineered skin substitutes and bioengineered dermal templates. Advances in reconstructive options aim to improve functional and aesthetic outcomes, especially for extensive burns. Understanding these factors and innovations emphasizes the ongoing need for research to optimize long-term recovery and reduce burn-related morbidity and mortality.
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