Trauma and burns: timing of burn wound excision: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Surgery · Trauma and burns: timing of burn wound excision

Sample item

A 30-year-old man has a 10 percent total body surface area full-thickness flame burn of the thigh. What is the best timing of definitive wound management?

AEarly tangential excision and skin grafting within the first few daysBImmediate full-thickness skin graft at admission before resuscitationCWaiting several weeks for natural eschar separation before graftingDDressings alone until healing by secondary intention

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Early tangential excision and skin grafting within the first few days

Early excision of non-viable tissue and wound closure reduce burn wound sepsis, hypermetabolism and hospital stay compared with delayed separation of eschar. It is carried out after resuscitation, usually within the first few days.

Option by option

A. Early tangential excision and skin grafting within the first few days (correct)
Correct. Early excision and grafting after resuscitation improves outcome.
B. Immediate full-thickness skin graft at admission before resuscitation
Resuscitation takes priority, and grafting at admission is neither feasible nor safe.
C. Waiting several weeks for natural eschar separation before grafting
Delaying for eschar separation prolongs infection risk and the inflammatory response.
D. Dressings alone until healing by secondary intention
A full-thickness burn will not heal adequately by secondary intention and would scar or contract.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, Early tangential excision and skin grafting within the first few days. Early excision of non-viable tissue and wound closure reduce burn wound sepsis, hypermetabolism and hospital stay compared with delayed separation of eschar.

Why is "Immediate full-thickness skin graft at admission before resuscitation" not the answer?

Resuscitation takes priority, and grafting at admission is neither feasible nor safe.

Why is "Waiting several weeks for natural eschar separation before grafting" not the answer?

Delaying for eschar separation prolongs infection risk and the inflammatory response.

Why is "Dressings alone until healing by secondary intention" not the answer?

A full-thickness burn will not heal adequately by secondary intention and would scar or contract.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Trauma and burns: timing of burn wound excision in General Surgery. It is carried out after resuscitation, usually within the first few days.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Trauma and burns: timing of burn wound excision?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.