Pathophysiology and Treatment of Burn Injuries
Summary
Burn injuries initiate a complex interplay of thermal damage and host response. At the site of injury three concentric zones form: a central zone of coagulation where irreversible necrosis occurs, a surrounding zone of stasis at risk of secondary progression, and an outer zone of hyperaemia with preserved viability. Immediate protein denaturation, endothelial disruption and microvascular thrombosis are followed by an influx of neutrophils and macrophages, generation of reactive oxygen species and activation of apoptotic and autophagic pathways. Systemically, extensive burns provoke a hypermetabolic and catabolic state, immunosuppression and potential multi-organ dysfunction. Standard management prioritises rapid cooling, precise fluid resuscitation based on body surface area, early debridement and coverage with autograft or skin substitutes. Emerging therapies target inflammation and oxidative stress, enhance re-epithelialisation and stimulate angiogenesis. Innovations such as sprayable hydrogels, nanostructured dressings and cell-based approaches aim to mitigate wound conversion, accelerate closure and restore barrier integrity. Integrating molecular insights with advanced biomaterials and regenerative medicine holds promise for improving functional recovery and reducing long-term morbidity.
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Pathophysiology and Treatment of Burn Injuries publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in pathophysiology and treatment of burn injuries across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Zone of coagulation: Central region of irreversible tissue necrosis following thermal injury.
Zone of stasis: Surrounding area with reduced perfusion susceptible to secondary cell death.
Re-epithelialisation: Process by which keratinocytes migrate to restore the epidermal barrier.
Hydrogel: Water-retaining polymer network used as a moist wound dressing and drug delivery matrix.
Burn wound conversion: Phenomenon whereby superficially healing burns deepen over time due to secondary injury.
References
- Development of Hydrogel‐Based Sprayable Wound Dressings for Second‐ and Third‐Degree Burns. Advanced NanoBiomed Research (2021).
- A novel human ex-vivo burn model and the local cooling effect of a bacterial nanocellulose-based wound dressing. Burns (2020).
- Therapeutic Strategies to Reduce Burn Wound Conversion. Medicina (2022).
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