Continuity of Care After Skin Grafting in Burn Patients: Gaps in Postoperative Follow-up. A Scoping Review

(1)Background: Burn injuries lead to long-term physical, psychological, and functional sequelae, with socioeconomic, clinical, and health system factors contributing to inequities in outcomes. Chronic neuropathic pain, fragmented care, and limited access to rehabilitation remain persistent challenges, particularly among vulnerable populations. (2) Methods: A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect for studies published between 2010 and 2026 in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Thirty-one studies were included, encompassing quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods research, literature reviews, guidelines, and reports addressing continuity of care and follow-up after skin grafting in burn patients of any cause or age. Data were extracted independently and synthesized using descriptive and narrative approaches. (3) Results: The incidence of chronic neuropathic pain was 6%, often refractory and associated with smoking and substance use, with gabapentin and ascorbic acid showing significant pain reduction. Structured follow-up programs improved quality of life and psychosocial outcomes but did not reduce readmissions. Indigenous populations experienced greater severity and complications, while approximately half of the patients were at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder linked to body image dissatisfaction. Telemedicine reduced access barriers, yet delays in specialized care contributed to contractures and pathological scarring. Early rehabilitation mitigated functional disability, though gaps persist in pain management, psychosocial support, and continuity of care. (4) Conclusions: Post-burn recovery is a multidimensional process requiring structured follow-up, early rehabilitation, telemedicine, and culturally adapted interventions to promote equity and patient-centered outcomes. Keywords: Burns; Chronic neuropathic pain; Postoperative follow-up; Rehabilitation; Health inequities; Pa-tient-centered outcomes.