[Burns]

Extensive burns are severe, life-threatening injuries. Cutaneous burns are often accompanied by injury to inhalation, leading to severe pulmonary problems with a high rate of mortality. Published reports on series of burn patients state that in 2-5% of all (burn) cases, cutaneous thermal injury was accompanied by mechanical injuries such as fractures, closed head injuries, or blunt injuries to chest and abdomen. The care of the burn is often made difficult by concomitant orthopaedic injury, and in a multiple trauma victim, the burn itself often complicates diagnosis and treatment. It is important to recognize all injuries as soon as possible. The article briefly discusses practical considerations when treating patients with multiple injuries including cutaneous burns and/or inhalation injury. After initial resuscitation and stabilization these patients should be transferred to a specialized treatment facility for burns. As a rule, open surgical reduction and fixation of fractures should be carried out no later than 48 hours after the injury.