system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 55-year-old woman who works as a chef is brought to the hospital for evaluation of burns sustained in a kitchen accident. Physical examination reveals 3rd-degree burns over the anterior surface of the right thigh and the lower limbs, which involve approx. 11% of the total body surface area (TBSA). The skin in the burned areas is thick and painless to touch, and the dorsalis pedis pulses are palpable but weak. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
assistant
Early excision and split-thickness skin grafting