Behavior of skeletal muscle after severe burn injury

Severe burn injuries (BI) represent a public health problem in the world, especially children, most of cases due to hot liquids. In these situations, it tends to be more superficial and extensive injuries. BI above 40% of total body surface area are considered extensive and result in local and systemic responses. After an extensive BI, a persistent hypermetabolic and catabolic state begins, resulting several alterations in skeletal muscle. Since skeletal muscle is as a reservoir of amino acids in organisms, catabolic states occurs a protein metabolism deviation to the site of injury and to essential metabolism, resulting in loss of muscular mass and atrophy. The muscular connective tissue wrap also suffers the changes in favor of accompanying the morphological alterations of muscle fibers. Besides that, the skeletal muscle regeneration depends on a delicate balance between systemic inflammatory response, and muscle regulatory and atrophy factors. Thus, the aim of this review is contribute to understanding of these relationships.