About Dr. Lu Shuliang — Director, National Burn Center at Ruijin Hospital
Dr. Lu Shuliang (陆树良) is the Director of the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery at Ruijin Hospital Shanghai, one of China's most prestigious academic medical centers affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Ruijin Hospital's Burn Center is a National Key Clinical Specialty and is widely regarded as the birthplace of modern burn medicine in China — its legacy dates to 1958, when the team pioneered life-saving treatment for severe burn patients that made international headlines.
Dr. Lu is a leading authority on moist wound healing theory, chronic wound management, and the treatment of complex burns including chemical and electrical injuries. He has led numerous national research projects and trained generations of burn surgeons across China.
Hospital: Ruijin Hospital Shanghai (瑞金医院)
Department: Burns & Plastic Surgery (烧伤整形科)
Title: Chief Physician, Professor, Department Director
Affiliation: Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
Understanding Burns: Classification & Types
Burns are injuries to the skin and underlying tissues caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation. Accurate classification is essential for determining the correct treatment pathway.
Classification by Cause
🔥 Flame Burns (火焰烧伤)
Caused by direct contact with open fire, explosions, or ignited clothing. Flame burns are among the most severe, frequently resulting in deep partial-thickness or full-thickness injuries. They often affect large body surface areas and may involve inhalation injury, requiring intensive care management alongside wound treatment.
🌡️ Low-Temperature Burns (低温烧伤 / 低温烫伤)
A frequently underestimated injury type caused by prolonged contact with low-heat sources — such as hot water bottles, heating pads, electric blankets, or hand warmers — typically at temperatures between 44°C and 51°C. Despite the seemingly mild heat, sustained contact over hours causes progressive tissue damage that penetrates deep into the dermis or subcutaneous layer. The surface may appear deceptively minor (small blister or redness), while the underlying injury is far more serious. Low-temperature burns are particularly common in the elderly, diabetic patients, and individuals with reduced sensation.
Key warning: Do not apply ice or cold water to low-temperature burns — this can worsen tissue damage. Seek medical evaluation promptly.
⚗️ Chemical Burns (化学烧伤)
Caused by contact with strong acids (sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid) or alkalis (sodium hydroxide, lime). Unlike thermal burns, chemical burns continue to damage tissue until the agent is fully removed. Alkali burns are generally more severe than acid burns because alkalis penetrate deeper through a process called liquefactive necrosis. Immediate and prolonged irrigation with large volumes of water (minimum 20–30 minutes) is the critical first-aid step before any medical treatment.
- Acid burns: Cause coagulative necrosis — a firm eschar forms that may limit deeper penetration
- Alkali burns: Cause liquefactive necrosis — no natural barrier forms, allowing deeper and ongoing tissue destruction
Other Burn Types
- Scald Burns (热液烫伤): Hot water, steam, or cooking oil — most common in children
- Electrical Burns (电烧伤): Entry and exit wounds; internal tissue damage often far exceeds surface appearance
- Radiation Burns (放射性烧伤): Associated with radiation therapy or industrial exposure
Classification by Depth
| Degree | Layers Affected | Appearance | Healing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Degree (Superficial) | Epidermis only | Red, dry, painful, no blisters | 5–7 days, no scarring |
| Second Degree — Superficial | Epidermis + superficial dermis | Blisters, moist, very painful | 10–14 days, minimal scarring |
| Second Degree — Deep | Epidermis + deep dermis | Pale/mottled, reduced sensation | 3–4 weeks, significant scarring risk |
| Third Degree (Full-thickness) | All skin layers | Leathery, white/brown, painless | Requires skin grafting |
What Is Moist Wound Healing? (湿性愈合)
Moist wound healing is a scientifically validated approach that maintains a controlled moist environment at the wound surface to accelerate tissue regeneration — in contrast to the traditional belief that wounds should be left open to dry and form a scab.
The Science Behind It
Research pioneered in part by Dr. Lu Shuliang and his team at Ruijin Hospital has demonstrated that a moist wound environment:
- Promotes faster cell migration (keratinocytes and fibroblasts move more efficiently across a moist surface)
- Maintains growth factor activity that would otherwise be destroyed in a dry environment
- Prevents the formation of a hard eschar (scab) that physically blocks re-epithelialization
- Reduces pain during dressing changes — moist dressings do not adhere to the wound bed
- Lowers infection risk by maintaining a physical barrier against external pathogens
Moist Healing vs. Traditional Dry Healing
| Traditional Dry Healing | Moist Wound Healing | |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | Open air, eschar formation | Sealed moist dressing |
| Healing Speed | Baseline | 30–50% faster |
| Pain at Dressing Change | High (eschar adherence) | Minimal (non-adherent) |
| Scarring | More pronounced | Reduced |
| Infection Risk | Higher (open wound) | Lower (barrier protection) |
Common Moist Wound Dressings Used at Ruijin
- Hydrocolloid dressings — ideal for superficial partial-thickness burns
- Foam dressings — high absorbency for exudating wounds
- Alginate dressings — for heavily exudating or infected wounds
- Silver-containing dressings — antimicrobial properties for infected burn wounds
- Biological dressings / skin substitutes — for deep burns awaiting grafting
Conditions Treated at Ruijin Burn Center
- Acute flame, scald, chemical, and electrical burns (all severity levels)
- Low-temperature burns and contact burns
- Inhalation injury management
- Chronic non-healing wounds and diabetic foot ulcers
- Hypertrophic scars and keloid treatment
- Post-burn reconstructive surgery (in collaboration with Prof. Li Qingfeng, Plastic Surgery)
- Skin grafting and flap reconstruction
Why Choose Dr. Lu Shuliang & Ruijin Hospital Burn Center?
- China's #1 Burn Center: Ruijin's burn department has treated more than 60,000 burn patients and holds national key specialty status
- Pioneer of Moist Healing in China: Dr. Lu's research has shaped national clinical guidelines for burn wound management
- Multidisciplinary Team: Seamless collaboration with ICU, plastic surgery, rehabilitation, and nutrition teams within Ruijin Hospital
- Advanced Technology: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), skin substitutes, laser scar treatment, and robotic-assisted skin grafting
- International Patient Experience: Ruijin Hospital has extensive experience treating international patients with English-speaking coordination available through CMCS Shanghai
What to Expect: Your Treatment Journey at Ruijin Burn Center
- Initial Assessment: Burn surface area (TBSA) calculation, depth classification, and systemic evaluation including inhalation injury screening
- Acute Management: Fluid resuscitation, wound debridement, and application of appropriate moist dressings or biological covers
- Surgical Planning: For deep second-degree and third-degree burns, early excision and skin grafting is planned within the first 48–72 hours
- Wound Monitoring: Regular reassessment of wound depth and healing progress; dressing protocols adjusted based on exudate levels and infection status
- Scar Management: Pressure garments, silicone sheets, laser therapy, and steroid injections initiated as wounds close
- Reconstructive Referral: Complex cases involving facial burns, hand burns, or contractures are co-managed with the Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery team
Book a Consultation via CMCS Shanghai
China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides end-to-end coordination for international patients seeking burn treatment and wound care at Ruijin Hospital. Our services include appointment scheduling with Dr. Lu Shuliang's team, medical record translation, interpreter support, and post-treatment follow-up.
📧 contract@medicalsh.com
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