The diathermy scratch pad: A cheap and efficient tool for chemical and explosion-related burns

Author: Allen Wei Jiat WONG ¹ ; Qi En HONG ; Cheryl Li Yu HUI ; Si Jack CHONG
Author Information

1. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore. allen.wong.wei.jiat@gmail.com
Publication Type:Brief Communication
Keywords: Burns; Foreign bodies; Explosion; Dermabrasion; Debridement
MeSH: Burn Units; Burns; Burns, Chemical; Debridement; Dermabrasion; Diathermy; Explosions; Foreign Bodies; Hospitals, General; Singapore; Wound Healing; Wound Infection
From:Archives of Plastic Surgery 2019;46(1):88-91
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: The burn center in our hospital is a national and regional (Southeast Asia) center. Of all admissions, 10% are related to blast explosions, and 8% due to chemical burns. In the acute burn management protocol of Singapore General Hospital, early surgical debridement is advocated for all acute partial-thickness burns. The aim of early surgical debridement is to remove all debris and unhealthy tissue, preventing wound infection and thereby expediting wound healing. In chemical burns, there can be stubborn eschars that are resistant to traditional debridement. We would like to present a novel technique using the diathermy scratch pad as a cheap and efficient tool for the dual purpose of surgical debridement and dermabrasion.