Page 109 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Winter 2016
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Appendix A Escharotomy incisions
The incisions on the extremities are placed along the mid-medial and/
or mid-lateral joint lines. The bold lines indicate the importance of
always carrying the incisions across any involved joints. The incisions
on the chest are intended to free up a mobile “plate” of tissue to re-
store adequate chest movement with breathing. Source: Figure 26.1,
p. 379, Chapter 26 (Burns). In: Anonymous, Emergency War Surgery,
4th United States Revision. Fort Sam Houston, TX: Office of the Sur-
geon General, Borden Institute, 2013.
Figure A1 Photograph of a patient undergoing escharotomy Figure A2 Photograph of a patient undergoing escharotomy
of the leg, using electrocautery. The goal is to go through the of the leg and foot, using a scalpel. When using a
burned skin into viable tissue (i.e., subcutaneous fat). scalpel, there may be increased blood loss compared to
electrocautery, as shown here.
PFC Guideline: Burn Management 93
