Aggressive wound closure for elderly patients with burns

Elderly patients with burns who were age 70 years or older and who were admitted to Tokyo Medical College Hospital from 1981 to 1992 were evaluated. Among 63 patients with burns, operations were performed in 35. Of the 63, 18 patients died (six after operation). Aggressive surgical wound closure with dermolipectomy, which we have been performing since 1986, obtained statistically significantly earlier wound closure compared with conventional methods. In cases with a burn index of 10 to 30, the number of fatalities was significantly lower. In addition, the lowering of the ability of daily life and mental status after the wound closure was statistically and significantly smaller. From these facts, aggressive wound closure with dermolipectomy appears appropriate for elderly patients with burns.