[Local therapy of extensive severe burns: an illustrative review (author's transl)]

Apart from improvements in general management, the implementation of modern local therapy of burns, including topical chemotherapy and early surgical coverage of the burned surface, has significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality of severely burned patients. Furthermore, the average time of hospitalization has decreased (for example: 3rd degree burn, 60% of body surface involved, hospitalization in 1953: 11 months; in 1974: 5 1/2 months) and the rehabilitation period has also been shortened. This paper deals with current management at this department in respect to the local treatment of extensive 3rd degree burns. Special consideration is given to the different possibilities of wound closure and their indications, to therapeutic problems inherent in the special localization of certain burns and to the importance of physical therapy for early rehabilitation. In severe burns additional injuries should be considered and excluded by careful examination.