An escharotomy is a surgical procedure used to treat full thickness (third-degree) circumferential burns. Since full thickness burns are characterized by tough, leathery eschar, an escharotomy is used primarily to combat compartment syndrome. Following a full thickness burn, as the underlying tissues are rehydrated, they become constricted due to the eschar's loss of elasticity, leading to impaired circulation distal to the wound.

An escharotomy is performed by making an incision through the eschar to expose the fatty tissue below. Due to the residual pressure, the incision will often widen substantially.

[edit] External links

• A basic primer on the procedure
• Journal of Burns and Wounds - online open-access journal featuring articles on burn care and related research

v • d • e Operations/surgeries and other procedures of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (ICD-9-CM V3 86) Skin Escharotomy · Suture · Skin grafting · Mohs surgery · Free flap · Rotation flap · TRAM flap Hair Hair transplantation integument, SF, LCT navs: anat/physio, noncongen/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc skin appendage navs: anat, noncongen/congen/neoplasia, symptoms+signs/eponymous, proc

This medical treatment article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e