Burns can be some of the most difficult types of injuries to cope with. Burns can occur due to a wide range of factors. The effects that burn injury victims may have to cope with can vary significantly based on how their burn occurred. Chemical burns, for instance, can present dramatically different treatment and management needs than burns caused by exposure to an open flame. Regardless of how a burn injury occurs, the consequences that injury victims face for all but the most minor burns can be quite serious. These types of injuries can take much longer to heal than other types of trauma. And the physical scarring caused by a burn injury may never fully recover. Here are some common treatment options for burn injuries.
Steps you can take to reduce the impact of burns
Fortunately, burn injury victims can take some steps to reduce the impact that a burn injury will ultimately have on their health. There are things they can do to manage the pain and trauma that suffering a serious burn injury can frequently cause.
The following are some of the most common and effective treatment options for burn injuries:
- Topical treatments – For minor burns, first-degree burns, or second-degree burns that only affect a small portion of the body. Topical antibiotic treatments may be able to treat the wound. When used in conjunction with a sterile gauze bandage, topical treatments may be able to heal these types of burns effectively.
- Surgical treatments – Surgical treatments are typically necessary for more serious burn injuries. The type of surgical care needed will depend on the nature of the burn injury. Electrical burns may require fasciotomies to be effectively dealt with. Burn injuries to the chest or the limbs may require an escharotomy to prevent compartment syndrome. Additionally, most serious burns require some level of skin grafting to be allowed to heal fully.
- Pharmacological treatments – Because of the elevated risk of infection faced by most burn injury victims, pharmaceutical treatment is often necessary. Antibiotic treatment, usually intravenous, is often necessary to help prevent the development of infection during the burn healing process. Antihistamines may also be used to reduce itching among burn injury victims. Pain management may be accomplished through various medications. These range from analgesics to opioid-based painkillers.
Call us if you’ve suffered burn injuries.
While these treatment methods can be successful in helping to prevent the worst effects of a burn injury, it is, unfortunately, the case that many burn injury victims will have to cope with painful scarring and other consequences from their injury for years to come. In addition to the costs of medical treatment, this can create a serious burden that burns injury victims may not be able to cope with effectively. Fortunately, it may be possible for those whose injuries were caused by someone else to seek compensation for their losses. At Hach & Rose, LLP, we are dedicated to helping burn injury victims fight for justice. Contact our New York City fire and explosion injury attorneys at (212) 779-0057 today to learn more about what we can do to help you in this difficult situation.