Back to everyday life after severe burns: OTWorld shows how specialists in central Germany are helping a 19-year-old
The successful treatment and rehabilitation of patients with burn injuries depends crucially on the coordination of medical, orthopaedic and therapeutic care. At OTWorld 2026 – the World Congress and International Trade Show for modern orthopaedic treatment and care, taking place from 19 to 22 May in Leipzig – visitors can learn in detail about the complex challenges involved in this type of care. The case of a 19-year-old illustrates the strengths of interdisciplinary collaboration in Central German facilities.
In June 2023, a young man from Saxony suffered severe burns to his hands, legs, torso, face and neck in a road traffic accident. A total of 25 per cent of his body surface area was affected. While he was still receiving emergency care at the burn unit of the BG Klinikum Bergmannstrost in Halle/Saale, all fingers on his left hand except the thumb and the little finger on his right hand had to be partially amputated.
After stabilising the vital signs and removing the dead tissue,, skin was gradually transplanted in several surgical stages to accelerate wound healing. “If you were to wait for such a large area of skin to heal naturally, the risk of hypertrophic, excessive, raised scars would be very high, and the functional outcome would consequently be poor,” explains Dr Hans Ziegenthaler. He is a specialist in physical and rehabilitative medicine and Chief Physician at the Rehabilitation Centre for Burn Injuries at the Moritz Clinic in Bad Klosterlausnitz.
The 19-year-old patient arrived at the Rehabilitation Centre after eight weeks of intensive care and skin replacement therapy. During rehabilitation, the focus was, on the one hand, on treating the scars using various methods to promote wound healing: medical washes and baths, scar massages and appropriate dressings, as well as physical, cold plasma and infrared therapy. On the other hand, exercise therapy, fitness training and strength building using medical equipment were aimed at enabling the patient to regain the ability to perform everyday activities. “In an early phase of rehabilitation, we also discussed with the prosthetics and orthotics team what was possible in terms of orthopaedic treatment and care,” explains Ziegenthaler. He and master orthopaedic technician Frank Naumann from the Markkleeberg medical supply store Orthovital have been working together for more than 20 years in the care of burn patients.
Compression garments for optimal scar maturation
The most important orthopaedic medical aid in the treatment of burn injuries is compression garments, which help prevent hypertrophic scarring through continuous pressure. “The compression garments must be functional and well-fitting so that they allow for everyday activities, as they must be worn 23 hours a day, seven days a week,” explains Frank Naumann.
The compression garments are worn until scar maturation is complete, which can take up to 24 months. Scar maturation begins once the wounds have closed and epithelium has formed across the entire area. The internal structure of the scar then continues to change; the scar becomes more elastic and causes less tension. “If you consistently use compression bandages during this period continuous pressure, it has a positive effect on scar quality and the functional outcome,” explains Dr Hans Ziegenthaler.
Custom-made mask for facial scar treatment
A facial mask was used to support scar maturation on the young man’s face. “A facial mask is always custom-made and varies in size and shape,” explains Frank Naumann. A model is created based on a digital scan of the head. A thin layer of silicone and a plastic mask with a fastening system are then applied to this, perfectly adapted to contours such as the nose, chin and eye sockets. “This allows us to apply pressure even to undercuts, tailored to the individual anatomy, and achieve similar results in the head area to those with compression garments,” says Naumann. The silicone retains moisture in the scar and makes it softer. The biggest challenge in manufacturing: the face mask must not be too heavy and should not cause the patient any additional discomfort in order to be used effectively. The young man had to wear this mask for a good year.
Fitting a body-controlled finger prosthesis
To support scar maturation on his hands as well, the patient wore custom-fitted compression gloves. Occupational therapy was used to maintain mobility in the stumps. A prosthetic solution was particularly needed for his left hand, as most of the other four fingers had been amputated, leaving only the thumb. “An initial test showed that a self-powered finger prosthesis, which utilises the residual function of the finger stumps, would be the most suitable medical aid,” explains Frank Naumann. However, the stumps had to be optimised for the prosthetic fitting through further surgical procedures.
The patient now uses a body-controlled finger prosthesis. The prosthesis functions on a finger-by-finger basis, is robust, waterproof and designed for functionality, which was particularly important to the patient. The artificial middle and end joints bend when the metacarpophalangeal joint is flexed. “The young man can actively bend the three fingers on his left hand and reach his fingertips with his thumb,” says Frank Naumann, describing the success of the treatment. In February 2026, he received his permanent prosthesis.
Burn injuries: Far more than basic care
“When treating burn injuries, you have to allow for a much longer period of follow-up care and rehabilitation than with other accidental injuries,” says Dr Hans Ziegenthaler. “Skin changes and scar maturation can be supported, but not accelerated. Nature sets the pace.” Added to this is the emotional aspect: “Scars and amputations in visible areas – that takes its toll on a young man. Rehabilitation is also about coming to terms with the loss of physical integrity, processing the often traumatic event, dealing with the changed appearance and, last but not least, finding motivation for the future.”
The management of burn injuries is not part of basic care, precisely because the condition is rare and expertise is correspondingly rare. On the medical side, additional training and specialisation are required; on the prosthetics and orthotics side, the appropriate technical equipment is also needed to manufacture customised medical aids. “And then it’s a matter of establishing routines and learning from one case to the next,” says Dr Hans Ziegenthaler.
Frank Naumann adds: “Training courses offered by manufacturers, for example on compression garments, provide a good foundation for the management of surgical scars. And then you grow with the tasks, particularly in complex cases.” Added to this is the constant engagement with new technical developments, whether it is modern silicone processing, additive manufacturing, scanning methods or 3D printing.
A functioning network in Central Germany
Dr Hans Ziegenthaler and Frank Naumann agree that expertise arises from collaboration and the constant exchange of new insights. “Anything that goes beyond basic care can only be achieved through a functioning network,” says Ziegenthaler. This network exists in Central Germany thanks to the collaboration between the burn centres in Leipzig and Halle, the Rehabilitation Centre for Burn Patients at the Moritz Clinic, specialist facilities in Erfurt and Dresden, medical supply stores in Central Germany and the German Federal Association for Scar Therapy.
Update Compendium at OTWorld 2026
At OTWorld on 19 May, a workshop will present the “Update Compendium on Lower Limb Prothetics – Practical Application from Socket to Gait Training” by the German Society for Interprofessional Orthopaedic Treatment and Care (DGIHV). Frank Naumann will present the new chapter on care following thermal trauma with amputation in the workshop and provide a practical insight into interdisciplinary collaboration.
Access to OTWorld 2026
The ticket shop for OTWorld 2026 is open. OTWorld full tickets (OTWorld COMPLETE) are available, which include access to the World Congress and the International Trade Show.
A special Trade Show Group ticket at a reduced ticket price of 29.00 EUR per person can be recommended for visitor groups with a minimum of four attendees who would like to attend the International Trade Show, including all workshops (exhibitor and congress workshops). Separate two-day tickets are also available for participants of the Youth Academy for Technical Orthopaedics (JA.TO).
The ticket shop can be accessed here.
Note for editorial offices
Media representatives can register in advance online for OTWorld 2026.
Image for download (JPG, 674 kB)
Caption:
New grasping functions, new perspectives: An individually fitted finger prosthesis enables targeted movements and greater independence in everyday life following severe burn injuries. Photo: Orthovital GmbH
Further information
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