In burn management, when is surgical intervention indicated?

Surgical intervention in burn management is indicated primarily when there is a necessity for excision of necrotic tissue or skin grafting. Necrotic tissue, which is tissue that has died due to the severity of the burn, can lead to complications such as infection, delayed healing, and scarring. Excision of this tissue is critical to promote healing and prepare the wound bed for potential skin grafting. Skin grafting is often required for deeper burns, particularly third-degree burns, to restore skin integrity and functionality.

While other options might suggest various situations for surgical intervention, they do not adequately capture the primary indications for surgery in burn treatment. For instance, while third-degree burns often require surgical intervention, not all cases do; superficial burns might heal well with conservative treatment. Surgical intervention is not universally indicated for all burn patients or solely based on lack of improvement with conservative treatment as each burn requires individualized assessment and management.