The Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery provides state-of-the-art surgical care for patients who have sustained burn injuries from heat, electricity, chemicals, radiation, gases and thermal exposure. We work closely with the Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care to treat burns and complex wounds as well as burn scars and deformities. 

Electrical Trauma

The University of Chicago electrical trauma program specializes in treating patients suffering from the short-and long-term effects of electrical injury. This program brings together resources from the medical and surgical disciplines to determine the optimum management for patients with these types of severe injuries. Our research program in electrical trauma has made important discoveries into the nature of electrical injury and its treatment. This program is one of the few of its kind in the world.

Research

Along with specialized clinical care, the Burn Center serves as a source for several ongoing research projects, including:

• Biology of scar formation and control
• Molecular and cellular aspects of electrical injury
• Impact of nutritional supplements to wound healing
• Anesthetic pain management
• Pediatric pain control
• Aspects of pediatric post traumatic stress disorder (in conjunction with a psychologist at La Rabida Children's Hospital)

Community Involvement

The Burn Center staff participates in community burn education and serves as an informational resource. Our anesthesiologists, nurses and surgeons teach local and regional Advanced Burn Life Support courses as well as refresher courses in the pre-hospital and hospital care of burn-injured patients. Additionally, our staff participates in the annual Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Burn Camp, a summer program geared toward children with burn injuries. The Burn Center is also fortunate to have a Ronald McDonald House, which provides accommodations for the families of our out-of-town pediatric patients.