Burn Injury Management

There are four phases of Burn Injury Management: Emergent phase, resuscitative phase, acute phase, and rehabilitative phase.

Emergent Phase

• It includes pre-hospital care and emergency room care and begins at the time of injury till the restoration of capillary permeability.
• Usually 48-72 hours following burn injury.
• The management is to prevent hypovolemic shock and preserve vital organ functioning.

Resuscitative Phase

• The resuscitative phase begins with the initiation of fluids until capillary integrity returns to normal level.
• Administration of fluid is based on the body weight and extent of injury, and the formulas are calculated from the time of injury and not from the time of arrival at the hospital.
• Management of this phase is to prevent shock by maintaining adequate circulating blood volume.

Acute Phase

• This phase begins when the victim is hemodynamically stable, capillary permeability is restored, and diuresis has begun and continues until wound closure is achieved.
• Usually 48-72 after the time of injury.
• Management of this phase focus on infection control, wound care, wound closure, nutritional support, pain management, and physical therapy.

Rehabilitation Phase

• This is final phase of burn management.
• It focuses that the patient can gain independence and achieve maximal function.