Burn Unit

The Burn Unit at Bangkok Hospital is dedicated to providing comprehensive care for burn victims and managing their pain effectively. Our team of medical specialists and multidisciplinary professionals is committed to delivering innovative treatment methods to alleviate the severity of burn injuries caused by various factors, including fire, scalding, electrocution, hot gases inhalation, and exposure to dangerous chemicals. 

Burns can be classified into different degrees based on their severity and depth of tissue damage. The degree of burns includes: 

• First Degree: This is the least severe type of burn, affecting only the epidermal layer of the skin. The skin around the wound is reddish and painful, but it does not blister. First-degree burns typically heal within 3-5 days without scarring. 

• Second Degree: There are two types of second-degree burns: 

• a. Superficial Partial-Thickness: This type of burn affects the epidermis and the upper layer of the dermis. It causes reddish blisters that are soft but painful to the touch. Superficial partial-thickness burns usually heal within 2 weeks without scarring. 

• b. Deep Partial-Thickness: These burns extend deeper into the reticular dermis layer. The resulting blisters are thicker and can easily split. Although there is a slight chance of scarring, deep partial-thickness burns should heal within 3-6 weeks if not infected. 

• Third Degree (Full Thickness): Third-degree burns damage all layers of the skin, including the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, as well as the capillaries in the hypodermis. The skin appears pale, and the burn is only slightly painful. Skin grafting is usually required to treat third-degree burns, except when the burn area is less than 1 cm. 

• Fourth and Fifth Degree: These burns penetrate deeper into the tissues, including the muscle layer and bone. Proper wound cleansing and dressing are essential for treating these severe burns. 

The depth and extent of burns help determine whether they are classified as minor or major burns: 

• Minor Burns: These burns cover less than 5-10% of the body and are not located around critical areas such as the face, hands, feet, buttocks, or major joint areas. Minor burns can be treated on an outpatient basis until the wounds fully heal. 

• Major Burns: These burns cover more than 10-20% of the body or are deeper than 2%. The criteria for major burns may vary depending on the age group. Major burns require more extensive treatment, including wound dressing and, if necessary, skin grafting. 

Treatment objectives for burn injuries include controlling blood circulation, removing contaminants to prevent infection, debriding dead tissue, creating an optimal wound environment for healing, stimulating tissue growth, and protecting the wound from further damage and infection. 

The dressing of burn wounds involves different stages of treatment: 

• Week #1: Close assessment by a specialist, cleansing the wounds with topical antibiotics, such as Silver Sulfadiazine Cream, and protecting against infection. 

• Week #2 onwards: Regular assessment by a specialist every 2-4 days, bandaging with silver and foam components, using alginate or hydrofiber type bandages, and employing appropriate bandages for non-infected wounds. 

At the Burn Unit, our experienced specialists closely monitor and provide tailored treatment for burn injuries, ensuring optimal healing and minimizing complications. 

The Burn Unit at Bangkok Hospital offers comprehensive care, focusing on pain management and innovative treatments for burns caused by various factors. Services include wound assessment, debridement, infection prevention, and specialized dressing techniques, tailored to burn severity to optimize healing and minimize complications.