Prognosis and treatment of burns.

Survival rates for burn patients in general have improved markedly over the past several decades. The development of topical antibiotic therapy for burn wounds, the institution of the practice of early excision and grafting, and major advances in intensive care management have all contributed to this success. In this review we address these 3 important advances in the modern treatment of burn injuries and provide a brief historical overview of these accomplishments and others, emphasizing specific achievements of note and promises for the future. We also discuss 3 topics of interest to burn physicians, including the special problems and high mortality of elderly burn patients, the disturbingly high mortality in burn patients with inhalation injury, and the possible use of artificial skin to facilitate rapid wound closure.