DOI: 10.36347/sasjs.2018.v04i09.001

Pages: 166-169

Early excision and grafting of small burn wounds is an accepted treatment. Early excision of burn injuries greater than 30% total body surface area (TBSA) in adults, however, has not been universally accepted. In this comparative study held at New Burn Unit, Department of General Surgery, G.R. Medical College and JAH group of hospitals, Gwalior, 100 patients whose age ranged from 15 to 50 years with 10% to 30% total body surface area (TBSA) burns were divided into two groups of 50 each with one group treated with conventional burn treatment and other with early skin grafting. Considerable difference (reduction of 34%) was seen in hospital stay between the patients of grafting and the non-grafting group. Early–delayed split skin graft was found to statistically significantly reduce the length of stay and occurrence of infection as opposed to late or non-split skin grafting. The mean duration of stay in grafting group was 16.9 days and 25.9 in the non-grafting group. No statistically significant relation could be established for occurrence of contractures due to loss in follow up of patient. This study showed that SSG is possible and the few patients who underwent early grafting showed good outcomes, shorter hospital stay and lower infection rates. Reduction in contracture formation may have been determined if follow up was achieved.