Question

A woman with deep partial-thickness burns on the lower limb is shown undergoing a procedure. What is the procedure?

• A. Escharotomy
• B. Surgical debridement
• C. Excision to healthy fat or fascia
• D. Early skin grafting

Hint:

Burn wound cleaning with removal of dead tissue = surgical debridement; linear release incision for tight eschar = escharotomy.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept: Deep partial-thickness burns may require removal of devitalized tissue to reduce infection risk and prepare the wound bed for healing or later grafting. This removal of dead or contaminated tissue is called surgical debridement.

Step 1: Identify the burn type.
The question mentions: \[ \text{Deep partial-thickness burns} \] These burns involve deeper dermis and may not heal rapidly without intervention.

Step 2: Understand the procedure shown.
The image shows removal of damaged burn tissue and wound bed preparation rather than a simple linear release incision.

Step 3: Differentiate from escharotomy.
Escharotomy is usually a long incision through constricting eschar, especially in circumferential full-thickness burns causing vascular or respiratory compromise. Therefore, the most appropriate answer is Surgical debridement.