Læknablaðið - 01.04.1943, Qupperneq 9

LÆK NABLAÐIÐ
GEFIÐ ÚT AF LÆKNAFÉLAGI REYKJAVÍKUR
Aðalritstjóri: ÓLAFUR GEIRSSON.
Meðritstjórar: KRISTINN STEFÁNSSON og ÓLI P. HJALTESTED.
28. árg. Reykjavík 1943. 8. tbl. " !
The treatment of Burns
by Charles C. Thonias Lt. Comnidr., M. C. USNR.1)
It is my purpose in presenting
this short paper to review some of
the more popular methods of treat-
ment of burns, and to formulate
from them what I believe is a sui-
tahle method of treatment. The
basis for selecting our method rniist
he several fold in its purpose. Our
therapy must he workable under
varied conditions; it must be as
simple as jiossilde; it must be ef-
fective in lowering the mortality
and morbidity, as well as securing
as good a functional and cosmetic
result as is posihle.
During the period since the last
great war, numerous new methods
of treatment liave been brought
out, and each has its advocates.
The very fact that there have been
several different methods of thera-
py, each of whose proponents feels
sure that his selected form of
treatment is the hest, is the finest
argument that, so far, no one single
method is the final answer for all
conditions. Certainly some met-
hods of treatment are better for
handling burns of certain areas
than other methods, and this
should be emphasized. There is no
i) Read liefore L.R. nóv. 1942.
one method which does not have
certain adventages as well as dis-
advantages.
May I repeat the requirements
for a successful method of treat-
ment ?
First there must he a satisfactor-
ily low mortality rate.
Second — there must 1>e a low
incidence of the infection and mor-
bidity rate.
Third — there must he relief of
pain.
Fourth — there must be prevent-
ion, as far as is possible in the
formation of scar contractures.
'J’his factor is extremely importanr,
as herein lies the cause of both poor
functional and cosmetic results.
Fifth — there must he great
gentleness in tlie handling of the
burned area. This factor is also
extremely important, in tlie mini
mizing of the production of scar
tissue.
Sixth and last — there must he
ease in handling of the patient. In
general, I helieve that is the least
important feature, but, in case of 3
severe bomloing, or any other con-
dition in which it is ‘necessary to
handle a large numher of casuals
rapidly, a great tax is placed on