Shigenori Masaki, Itaru Maeda, Takashi Kawamoto
Burn injuries are the most common type of skin injury.1 Initial evaluation of burn depth and size is essential in determining treatment strategies.1,2 Burn depth is conventionally classified into 3 main categories: superficial, partial-thickness, and full-thickness. Burn size is evaluated by estimating the patient’s total body surface area (TBSA) percentage. Minor burns, such as superficial or partial-thickness burns less than 10% of TBSA, can be managed by a primary care physician using topical agents or wound dressings in an outpatient setting.3 Full-thickness burns, however, require evaluation by a specialist in a burn center for excision and skin grafting.1-3 Clinicians occasionally encounter patients who decline operative procedures. If the full-thickness burn in such a patient is minor, conservative treatment may be acceptable.4 Few published studies have reported the use of … read more