Early Tangential Excision and Split-Thickness Skin Graft Reduced Hospitalized Length Stays for Burn Injuries

Abstract

Introduction: Burns pose a physical, psychological, health system, and long-term length of stay problem. Surgical treatment of burns is an important intervention in their management. The optimal timing of early tangential excision and split-thickness skin graft varies. Early excision of burned tissue to remove dead tissue and inhibit the inflammatory process decreases the risk of infection. Early excision and grafting of burns is the standard of practice for most major burns. Methods: The research was a cross-sectional study with a descriptive design of secondary data. Burn patients were treated at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital Surabaya, Indonesia, from 2018 to 2022. Inclusion criteria in this study were all patients who underwent early tangential excision and split-thickness skin graft. Achieving statistical analysis and data analysis using SPSS 25 on Windows. Results: A greater amount of time on total body surface area (TBSA) is linked to early tangential excision and split-thickness skin grafts. There are statistically significant variations in the burn area (TBSA 20.5%–30%, P = 0.036 (P = 0.05), TBSA 30.5%–40%, P < 0.001, and burn area (TBSA 40.5%–50%, P = 0.003). The current findings demonstrated that split-thickness skin grafts and early tangential excisions done on burns with TBSA 20% at partial thickness–full thickness depth had statistically significant outcomes, shortening the length of stay for burn patients. Conclusions: An analysis of the current data, burn patients’ duration of stay was reduced when burns with TBSA >20% with partial thickness–full thickness depth underwent early tangential excision and split–thickness skin transplant had statistically positive results.