2025, Volume 18, Issue 5, pp 440 – 448

Chemical burns: pathophysiology and therapeutic protocols—do cervico-facial injuries pose specific challenges?

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Authors and Affiliations

Corresponding author Rareş-Adrian Giurgiu, Department of Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; E-mail: rares.giurgiu@drd.umfcd.ro

Abstract

Chemical burns, though relatively rare, present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to their complex pathophysiology and the need for specialized care. A retrospective study was conducted, examining the characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of 33 patients with chemical burns admitted to our burn center for 8 years, representing 4.39% of all burn cases. Among them, 15 patients (45.45%) had chemical burns on the face and neck. The majority of these patients were men, with a relatively younger average age, and a significant proportion had work-related accidents. The burned surface area was variable, with many patients sustaining small total body surface area (TBSA), although some presented with extensive involvement. The prevalence of superficial partial-thickness burns was higher, but deep partial-thickness and full-thickness burns were also common. A large proportion of patients had favorable Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI) scores, indicating a high probability of survival. However, ocular involvement was a major complication. The study emphasizes the importance of timely intervention, including appropriate wound management strategies, specialized dressings, and skin substitutes. The findings also stress the need for a multidisciplinary approach, close monitoring, and adherence to safety protocols to optimize outcomes and minimize long-term complications in patients with chemical burns, particularly those of the face and neck region.

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About this article

PMC ID: 12207703
PubMed ID: 
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2025-0082

Article Publishing Date (print): 5 2025
Available Online: 

Journal information

ISSN Printing: 1844-122X
ISSN Online: 1844-3117
Journal Title: Journal of Medicine and Life

Copyright License: Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.


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