The tegument resulting from the healing of burns.

First the authors conceptualized healed burns, the tegument resulting from the healing of burns (TRH), and the 4 main species of teguments: 1--Regenerated skin; 2--Restored skin; 3--Grafts and 4--Scars. One hundred patients at the Unit Burn from the Division of Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil, were then studied prospectively, and the respective teguments which resulted from the healing of the burns were analyzed in their qualitative and quantitative aspects. From the qualitative point of view, TRHs were classified into 7 types. The extensions of the species which comprised each type were calculated as a % of the TRH. From this analysis it was seen that restored skin was present in all patients and that pos-burn restored skin was the most frequent and most extensive species. It also became evident that restored skin has not been considered as such, since it has been incorrectly referred to as scar. From this qualitative and quantitative analysis a Quality Index was drawn up to objectively evaluate healed burns and, indirectly the caliber of the treatment carried out. It also become clear how heterogeneous are the teguments that make up healed burns and the importance of this fact for treating patients.