Burn surgery (excision and grafting)

A superficial burn heals on its own with suitable dressings. When it is deep, the destroyed skin cannot rebuild itself properly: healing is slow, at risk of infection and leaves thick, contracted scars. This is where surgery plays its full role. The reference treatment is excision and grafting: in the operating theatre, the surgeon removes the burnt tissue (excision), then covers the area with a skin graft taken from a healthy area of the patient. Performed early, usually within the first few days, it shortens healing time, reduces the risk of infection and improves the quality of the scar. After healing, after-effects may persist: thick scars, scar bands that limit movement, especially on the neck, the hand or the flexion creases. These are treated with pressure garments, rehabilitation and, if necessary, further surgery (scar band release, plasty, graft). Very extensive burns require a specialist burns centre; referral is then arranged. At Clinique Pasteur Tunis, surgery for localised burns and their after-effects is performed by a plastic surgeon, working with the anaesthesia and nursing teams for dressings, and with long-term follow-up.