Assessment of cosmetic and functional results of conservative versus surgical management of facial burns.

This study was undertaken to determine whether tangential excision and thick split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) of deep facial burns give a better cosmetic and functional result than conservative management. Forty patients (28 adults, 12 children) treated for facial burns between July 1989 and July 1991 were evaluated in follow-up (mean 18.3 +/- 8.3 months). The patients were categorized into the following groups according to depth and management of their facial burns: (A) healed without surgery in less than 21 days (n = 13), (B) healed without surgery in 21 days or more (n = 11), (C) early debridement and thick STSG in 18 days or less after the burn (n = 6), and (D) delayed debridement and thick STSG in more than 18 days after the burn (n = 10). Facial esthetics were evaluated by use of a modified scar assessment scale [range 0 (normal) to 16 (multiple abnormalities)], and functional problems of the face and neck were evaluated by use of physical examination. Group A patients had a significantly better overall rating on the scar assessment scale (2.1 +/- 2.9) than the patients in the other groups that required more than 21 days to heal, B (8.0 +/- 2.7), C (7.3 +/- 2.9), and D (5.7 +/- 2.5) (p < 0.01, analysis of variance). Also, skin-grafted areas in the surgically treated groups C and D had a significantly better scar rating than wounds that healed spontaneously in group B (5.7 +/- 4.0 vs 8.0 +/- 2.7, p < 0.05; and 5.1 +/- 2.6 vs 8.0 +/- 2.7, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference among groups B, C, and D when the total number of persistent functional problems after treatment were compared. The most common functional problems for these patients were microstomia (17/27) and eyelid ectropion (17/27). Patients with superficial facial burns that heal in less than 21 days appear to heal with generally very acceptable cosmetic and functional results. However, in those patients with deep facial burns that require prolonged periods for spontaneous wound healing, tangential excision of the wound and resurfacing with thick STSG appear to give better cosmetic results than conservative management, with no greater incidence of functional complications.