Vol. 23 No. 1 (2026)
An Approach To:

Approach to: Burn Injuries

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Jason
University of British Columbia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26443/mjm.v23i1.1076

Published 2026-10-15

Keywords

  • burn,
  • TBSA,
  • Parkland,
  • flame

How to Cite

1.
Liu YT. Approach to: Burn Injuries. McGill J Med [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 15 [cited 2026 Oct. 16];23(1). Available from: https://mjm.mcgill.ca/article/view/1076

Copyright (c) 2026 Jason

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Abstract

Burn injuries are trauma cases with potentially complex pathophysiology and multi-organ considerations, especially in severe cases. Serious sequelae such as compartment syndrome and inhalational injuries must be considered in victims of severe burns. Burn severity is assessed via a combination of burn area and burn depth, using methods such as the rule of nines or the Lund-Browder charts for area and clinical examination to determine depth. Mild burns can be managed on an outpatient basis by family physicians, while major burns should be referred to the local burn center for management. Non-surgical treatment of burns includes dressings, cooling, pain relief, and monitoring for infection, while surgical treatment focuses on the debridement of non-viable tissue and wound closure.

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