Modern Approaches to the Treatment of Post-Burn Scar Complications

Post-burn scarring is not simply a cosmetic problem. It can restrict movement, distort anatomy, and profoundly affect a patient’s psychological well-being. This lecture moves from scar biology and classification to the mechanisms behind hypertrophic scars, keloids, and contractures, then into real-world treatment strategies.

The speaker discusses rehabilitation from the earliest stages after a major burn, including massage, compression therapy, silicone products, laser treatment, injections, and the role of an individualized multidisciplinary plan. Surgical options range from scar release and skin grafting to dermal expansion, local and regional flaps, artificial matrices, and microsurgical reconstruction.

Clinical cases illustrate a recurring challenge: the best technical reconstruction is not always the best solution for a particular patient. The discussion also addresses timing of rehabilitation, excision of deep burns, postoperative care, and the often underestimated psychological burden of extensive scarring.