Burns can be some of the most difficult types of injuries to cope with. Burns can occur as a result of a wide range of different factors, and 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, however, 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.
Fortunately, there are steps that burn injury victims can take to reduce the impact that a burn injury will ultimately have on their health, as well as 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 effectively heal these types of burns.
- 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 in order to be effectively dealt with. Burn injuries to the chest or the limbs may require an escharotomy in order to prevent compartment syndrome. Additionally, most serious burns require some level of skin grafting in order to be allowed to fully heal.
- 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, and pain management may be accomplished through a variety of different medications, from analgesics to opioid-based painkillers.
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 burn injury victims may not be able to effectively cope with. Fortunately, it may be possible for those whose injuries were caused by someone else to seek compensation for their resulting 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.