Management of eyelid burns

Burns are devastating injuries scarring patients, both physically and psychologically, for life. This remains particularly true for facial burns. Eyelid burns occur in about 10% of thermal injuries and is a considerable challenge for the reconstructive surgeon given the particular anatomy of the eyelids. Reconstruction of the eyelids following burn injuries has been performed by plastic surgeons since the earliest days of reconstructive surgery, yet a consensus on a treatment regime has not been reached and plastic surgeons are divided on the subject. Controversies exist regarding the excision and debridement of eschar, temporary suture and surgical tarsorrhaphy, timing of surgery for eyelid contraction, and the role of full and split-thickness skin grafts in eyelid reconstruction. This paper describes the particularities of the treatment of burned eyelids in our Burn Center.