Emergency War Surgery NATO Handbook: Part I: Types of Wounds and Injuries: Chapter III: Burn Injury

Burn Injury

United States Department of Defense

Extensive use of the various fuels needed to provide both ground and air mobility for the present-day armed forces increases the risk of thermal burns in military personnel. During times of conflict, the possibility of the unintended ignition of these fuels is greatly increased, as is the chance of thermal injury from antipersonnel and other weapons. The development of thermonuclear devices has created the possibility of virtually instantaneous generation of large numbers of burn patients, creating not only medical but also severe logistical problems.

Even under the best conditions, the simultaneous arrival of many extensively burned patients at any hospital disrupts the activities of the professional and paramedical staff and places heavy demands upon the logistical system of that treatment facility. Recent laboratory developments and the clinically demonstrated efficacy of topical chemotherapy have resulted in general acceptance of simplified burn treatment techniques readily adaptable to the combat surgery environment.

The first priority in the management of the burn patient is given to maintenance of the airway, control of hemorrhage, and prompt institution of resuscitative therapy. The presence of associated traumatic wounds in patients with burn injuries may complicate the management of their burns and vice versa. The essence of the successful treatment of burn patients, with or without other traumatic injuries, is effective triage, timely diagnosis, accurate assessment of surgical priority, and appropriate resuscitation.

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Operational Medicine 2001

Health Care in Military Settings

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