Plastic Surgery and Burns

We treat all types of benign skin lesions that need plastic surgical intervention. We also see patients with skin cancers with or without lymph node involvement, and patients with specific types of melanoma.

The head and neck team at Churchill Hospital in Oxford treat intraoral tumours. Patients with soft tissue sarcomas have treatment at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

We treat all types of breast conditions ranging from congenital (present from birth) to those that are secondary to breast cancer.

Our team provides reconstructive surgical options from immediate to delayed procedures in conjunction with our breast cancer surgeons, including:

• implant based techniques
• autologous tissue based reconstructions, for example, DIEP flap reconstruction – we use your own tissue to create a mound instead of an implant.

We are planning to offer areola tattooing in the near future.

Our free flap breast reconstruction service has a 98% success rate.

We treat all types of adult and paediatric upper limb problems including nerve compression syndromes (for example carpal tunnel syndrome), Dupuytren’s contracture and arthritis.

We also provide specialist care and plastic surgery for patients with rheumatoid disease and other forms of arthritis. Our care rheumatology team works with us to jointly manage your care.

Patients with spinal injuries, including tendon and nerves transfers, may need complex upper limb reconstructive surgery. We work closely with our team in the National Spinal Injuries Centre.

We also treat all types of congenital hand deformities in children, from the removal of extra digits to complex cases, such as syndactyly (joined fingers) and underdeveloped or duplicate thumb deformities.

This condition affects 1 in 300 boys. It’s a deformity of the urogenital system (penis) and can include:

• the hole that urine passes through not being in the correct place
• absent foreskin at the front of the penis, with excess at the back
• a bent penis when stiff (chordee).

Treatment may involve a one or two stage reconstruction.

We treat plastic surgical trauma including hands (bones and soft tissue) and soft tissue trauma in adults and children.

Major trauma and open lower limb fracture emergency treatments take place at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

We use microsurgical facilities to replant amputated digits and devascularized hand injuries.

We also treat soft tissue problems and infections that need specialist plastic surgery and acute surgical intervention. This includes caring for patients with complex skin loss such as necrotising fasciitis.

We run regular hand follow up clinics. We see patients after their operation for wound check and replacement of cast or splints. You can start early rehabilitation under the care of our specialist physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

We treat all types of acute burn injuries in adults and children. As a designated burns unit, we can treat patients with injuries below the accepted unit level of 40% total body surface area in adults and 20% in children.

Our highly skilled multi-disciplinary team consists of specialist consultant surgeons, specialist nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, a dietician and a social worker.

As part of our diagnostic process, we use laser Doppler imaging that accurately assesses the burn depth from 2 to 5 days after your injury. This helps us to decide on the best treatment for your burn. 

We help patients who have had burn injuries in the past. You may have recovered with problematic scars that lead to functional, psychological and cosmetic problems.

We offer all aspects of scar therapy and psychological help. We also provide surgical techniques including:

• release or resurfacing of burn scars
• reconstruction with skin grafting
• replacement of layers with artificial skin products
• reconstruction of scars with local or free flaps and tissue expanded skin.

Where possible we use non-burned tissue from your own body into the burn scars to break contractures (shortening of a muscle or joint), restore mobility and function.

We also run monthly complex scar clinics where we’ll assess you and provide treatment patients on an individual basis.

We are one of only 2 units in the country that offers fractional carbon dioxide laser treatment for complex scars (thanks to ScanAppeal and charitable burns funds).

We offer joint care with the National Spinal Injuries Centre to patients with pressure ulcers and complex wounds.

We use techniques that include debridement, negative pressure therapy and reconstruction with a wide variety of flaps that imports well vascularised tissue from the patient’s body to help the healing process.

We also offer reconstruction to patients with complex perineal wounds, such as patients treated for colorectal or urogenital cancer that need reconstruction with muscle or skin flaps to restore function and healing.

We are a team of occupational therapists and physiotherapists who are experienced in treating patients following a burn injury. We help with mobility and functionality as well as scar management.

Some of our treatments include:

• exercises –both stretches and strengthening
• massage –for scars and hypersensitivity
• lymphatouch–negative pressure therapy
• pressure garments
• skin camouflage
• splinting
• functional advice
• advice on sun protection, pain, itch
• advice on return work and school as appropriate.

We offer treatment to adults, adolescents and children. We may see you as an inpatient, in burns outpatients, scar clinic or within our own therapy department.

We tailor our advice to your needs through an ongoing process as your burn heals.

If you would like to contact us please call us on 01296 315097

We offer psychological support to adults, adolescents and children who have a burn injury. We also provide support for parents, carers, partners and relatives of patients with a burn injury.

Our team are here to support you and your family through any difficult thoughts and emotions that may arise as a result of a burn injury at any stage of your recovery.

Common concerns might include:

• feeling sad, worried, shocked, guilty, numb, angry
• distressing thoughts about the circumstances of the injury
• nightmares or distressing memories
• appearance-related concerns as a result of the burn
• anxieties regarding hospital procedures (for example, dressing changes, surgery).

These are common experiences following a burn injury and we understand that some may wish to manage this themselves or with the support of family/friends. However, we are here for those who feel that some additional support may be beneficial.

After a burn related injury, it’s likely you’ll develop a scar. We can help improve scars but they’re lifelong and we’re here to support you through the process.

The multidisciplinary (MDT) scar clinic includes:

• a burns consultant
• advanced clinical practitioner
• clinical psychology
• occupational therapy/physiotherapy

The scar MDT clinic will:

• assess whether you need any further support or treatment during your scar maturation process
• assess and treat any abnormal scarring
• refer you to supporting services if necessary.

• Axillary and groin dissection
• Burns Unit clinical psychology and social work team
• Burns Unit paediatric clinical psychology service
• Corticosteroid injections for scars in adults and children
• Going home with drains
• Hydradenitis – discharge information for patients
• Implant based breast reconstruction
• Patient-Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU)
• Rheumatoid arthritis hand exercises – mobility and strength
• Scar care
• What to expect after a burn injury