Burns updated in China: I. Cutaneous thermal burns

Clinical research on burns has developed substantially in China since 1958. Having the rich inheritance of our traditional medicine the study of burn treatment in our country has developed in a way somewhat different from that in Western countries. In this paper, the outcome of the clinical practice and research work related to traditional herbal medicine in fluid resuscitation and wound management is briefly described. In the field of estimation of the surface area and depth classification, immunology and its clinical practice of skin graft, burn wound sapremia and burn septicemia, much clinical and laboratory research work was studied by the Chinese surgeons in the past 10 years. Also, prevention of scar overgrowth and deformity following its burn contracture by prophylactic management is discussed.