[Primary excision of burn wounds].

After the clarification of the pathophysiology of the shock suffered in burns and after working out the successful shock therapy -, as well as after the surgical removal of the necrosed tissues and the introduction of the up-to-date dermoplasty the prognosis of the thermic trauma has undergone fundamental change. The tangential and laminal excision - that is the removal of the necrosed areas with dermatological knife - has been introduced in 1968. Ater the review of the secondary surgical interventions the new method, its advantages and limits, as well as their experiences are discussed by the authors. This method has elevated the primary care of the burns to the level of the therapy of the mechanical wounds and it has allowed the application of Friedrich's principle also in the surgical treatment of the thermic trauma. The proportion of the contractures decreased considerably, - and this may be considered as a great progress, even in the case that the mortality of the severe burns could not be reduced in greater degree. The institution and the use of the tangential excision is already of beneficial effect.