| 1. |
Any circumferential burn of the face, scalp, chest, abdomen, penis, or extremity must be closely observed for early deleterious compressional effects of the burn eschar.
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| 2. |
Early escharotomy is mandatory. Late escharotomy is too often ineffective.
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| 3. |
Zig-zag incisions help prevent straight line scar contractures which may require reconstruction.
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| 4. |
Unnecessary death of normal tissue may be prevented by aggressive use of early escharotomy.
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David Mendelowitz is a Junior Medical Student from Northwestern University, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Ill. 60611. He is currently serving an Externship in Plastic Surgery at Norfolk General Hospital.