Healing of Burns and the Effect of Shockwave Therapy on the Recovery of Skin Grafts

Inclusion Criteria: Group A (n=50): Consent-capable male and female patients between ≥18 and ≤80 years of age who have sustained a superficial 2nd degree burn on ≥1% and ≤30% of the surface of the body. Group B (n=50): Consent-capable male and female patients between ≥18 and ≤80 years of age who have sustained a deep 2nd degree burn on ≥1% and ≤30% of the surface of the body. Group C (n=50): Consent-capable male and female patients between ≥18 and ≤80 years of age who require a skin excision for the purpose of a skin graft. The minimal size of the skin-graft donor site must not be less than 1% of BBS. Exclusion Criteria: General exclusion criteria 1. pregnancy 2. below 18 or above 80 years of age 3. burns requiring artificial respiration, since consent for the study participation is unobtainable 4. extent of burns ≤1% to ≥30% of the body surface Anamnestic exclusion criteria 1. diabetes mellitus requiring insulin 2. dialysis-dependent 3. ongoing chemotherapy treatment 4. drug abuse 5. systemic skin diseases 6. systemic and local cortisone therapy Local exclusion criteria Excluded from the study are those with burns in the regions: 1. head, face, neck 2. proximal ventral and dorsal thorax