Center for Severe Burn Injuries at the USZ

Burn injuries are among the most difficult injuries to treat medically and require a specific infrastructure, a team of highly specialized doctors and nurses from various disciplines.

Patients with burn injuries of all degrees are treated, from acute burns to the long-term consequences of severe burns. Burn injuries can be caused by accidents involving fire, scalds or chemical skin damage, as well as explosions and electrical injuries. Smoke inhalation and frostbite are also treated.

Intensive care unit with operating theater

A key feature of the center is its own surgical department integrated into the intensive care unit. This consists of two interconnected units: a room with a special bathtub (hydrotherapy) and a hydraulic patient lift for rough wound cleaning under sterile conditions and an adjoining operating theater for the removal of burnt skin and the necessary wound covering. Skin transplants and complex reconstructive and microsurgical operations are also performed here.

Primary and long-term care

As soon as the patients no longer require intensive care or their injuries do not require intensive medical treatment, they are treated on the ward of the Clinic for Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery. The treatment of burn injuries is often a long-term treatment. After their stay in hospital or rehabilitation in a specialist clinic, patients continue to receive intensive outpatient care at regular intervals in the special consultation hours for burn patients at the Clinic for Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery.

International cooperation

The center at the USZ is part of an international network. If the capacities in one of the participating burn centers are fully utilized, there are agreements for the mutual transfer of patients in order to ensure the best possible care.

Contact Center for Severe Burn Injuries