ABSTRACT
One hundred seventy eight patients with second or third degree burns who attended the emergency department in Suez Canal University Hospital in whom the total body burned surface area [TBSA] ranged between 10- 50% were included in our study. They were allocated randomly into two equal groups using simple randomization technique. [n= 89 patients]. Patients of the first group were treated by early excision of eschars and auto grafting [EEG], after a mean period of 5.39 +/- 1.47 days while patients of the second group were treated by repeated eschar excision, wound dressing and late grafting [LEG] after a mean period of 39.12 +/- 18.26 days [P<0.0001]. The mean graft take was 95.38% +/- 7.70 in the EEG group while it was 94.37% +/- 6.81 in the EEG group. The difference was statistically insignificant. Hypertrophic scars were common among patients of EEG group [41.57%] compared to [26.96%] in LEG group. It declined to 35% in EEG group compared to 30% in LEG group when burned surface area was equal or below 20% of [TBSA]. Late contracture was less common among patients of EEG group [6.74%] compared to [24.71%] in LEG group [P<0.001]. It declined to 0% in EEG group compared to 25% in LEG group when burned surface area was equal or below 20% of [TBSA]. The overall mortality was 5.06% [9 patients]. All mortalities had a burned surface area of 40-50%, it was due to septicaemia in 6 patients [3.37%], acute renal failure in 2 patients [1.12%] and DIC in one patient [0.56%]. Five of them [5.62%] were in EEG group and 4 [4.49%] were in the LEG group [NS]. The mean hospital stay was shorter in the EEG group [22.75 +/- 22.58 days] compared to [61.43 +/- 22.01 days] in the LEG group [p=0.0002]. We recommend the use of EEG in the management of second and third degree burn