Annals of burns and fire disasters最新文献

The aim of this study is to describe the management and outcome of surgical treatment for post burn contractures in different parts of the upper extremities in children, and provide a final decision algorithm that can be a useful guide for the Resident regarding surgical approach to contracture management. This was a retrospective study conducted in the Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pristina-Kosovo, between 2014-2016. All cases continued check ups in the Gentiana-Grelor private clinic in Pristina until 2019. Followups were conducted for no less than 6 months with respect to the viability and healing of the repaired area. Patients of both genders, aged from 0 months to 18 years with post-burn contracture in upper extremity, were included in the study. For the sake of presentation, we divided them anatomically into four main areas: axilla, elbow, wrist and hand. We start with a reconstructive ladder using skin grafts (STSG, FTSG), and local flaps such as advancement flaps, Z-plasties, V-Y or Y-V advancement flap, abdonimal/groin pedicled flap, cross finger flap, radial forearm flap were used. Patients were called for follow-up lasting a minimum of one to up to three years. The study included 144 patients. Their age ranged from 9 months to 18 years, the mean age being 12 years. Ordering them by location, post-burn contracture percentage in upper extremity in children was 68% on the hands, 18% on the elbows, 8% on the axilla and 6% on the wrist. A classification and treatment algorithm aids in achieving significant improvements in both joint motions and aesthetic deformities.

Recently, electrospinning technology has gained increasing attention for wound care. SpinCare™ electrospun polymer nanofibrous temporary epidermal layer is one of the latest developments in the market. Our objective was to explore the potential use of the new SpinCare™ system for treating burns and wounds. We conducted a single-center prospective observational trial, treating 10 patients with superficial to partial thickness wounds including burn wounds with a nanofibrous dressing. Treatment was evaluated, including procedures, place of injury, treatment times, ease of use etc. Ten superficial to deep dermal wounds were treated successfully. Inexperienced users learned the handling of the device quickly. Covering difficult-to-access wound surfaces was challenging. One leading problem is that the product is nearly opaque once applied on the moist wound. We introduced a standardized 3-day treatment protocol. After application, wounds were covered with a silicon layer for 2 days. The nanofibrous dressing appeared to be suitable following enzymatic debridement in burn wounds. Because there is a risk of wounds drying out under the dressing, the application should probably be limited to superficial and partial thickness wounds if not combined with other treatment options. The electrospun polymer nanofibrous temporary epidermal layer shows promising results in the treatment of superficial to partial thickness wounds including burns. However, minor improvements might help to optimize its usage and thus take full advantage of all existing treatment options.

Electrical burn constitutes a major proportion of patients admitted to the burn ward with life- as well as limb-threatening complications. Due to the severity of an electric current passing through the body, local tissues are greatly damaged. These patients require multiple debridements and surgeries to cover the composite defect resulting from a high voltage electrical contact burn. In our study, we intend to evaluate the application of microvascular reconstruction by doing a free tissue transfer on an electrical burn defect, and determine how doing a composite reconstruction of a complex defect in a single stage helps in decreasing morbidity.

Recent research found that enzymatic debridement clearly improves long-term scarring in burns. By reducing the spontaneous wound-healing period, scarring might be optimized. The latest publications show that wound healing can be accelerated by the application of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF). However to date no study that evaluates PRF treatment in burn wounds following enzymatic debridement has been published. We conducted a single-center prospective observational trial treating ten patients with partial thickness to deep dermal burns after enzymatic debridement with PRF. After wound treatment, the dressing remained untouched for five days. For wound healing, we compared different dressings and treatment options. Minimum pain and no signs of infection were observed during any of the treatments. Physicians were able to learn the manufacture of PRF quickly. For two early treatments, skin grafting was required. In one case, the dressing was removed too early. In a second case, the wait for spontaneous wound healing was not long enough. After a standardized treatment procedure was set, we found that results were clearly improving. Mean healing time of seven wounds treated with Suprathel® dressing was 18 days (min 9 days, max 21 days). PRF application might be useful to reduce healing time in partial thickness to deep dermal burn wounds that heal spontaneously after enzymatic debridement. Thus, scarring can be improved.

Burn patients, especially children, experience many problems during their hospitalization. Because of their unique physiologic and altered pharmacokinetic profile, children receive more off-label prescribing than adults. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of off-label prescribing in burned children. This was a retrospective observational study conducted in the Dr. Soetomo General Hospital from December 2019 to March 2020. Data were collected from the medical records of burned children hospitalized over a 3-year period, from January 2017 to December 2019. Burn patients under 18 years old who received at least one prescribing medication were enrolled in this study. Twenty-six burned children met the inclusion criteria. A total of 215 medications were prescribed during this study and 35% of them were classified as off-label. The term off-label for age range was the highest among the off-label prescribing medicines, as much as 53%, with 30% classified for an unapproved indication, 15% for an unapproved dosage, and 2% for an unapproved dosage form. The prevalence of off-label prescribing was higher in children from 2 to 12 years old than in adolescents. Analgesics were the therapeutic classes most often prescribed as off-label in burned children. Most burned children are administered off-label medication with uncertain evidence. Further research is needed in this population to focus on several medications with high risk potential.

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) has trophic functions due to a high concentration of growth factors and cytokines. These properties may be of therapeutic interest in the management of burn injuries. In preparation for a clinical study at the Lyon Burn Centre on PRP as an inducer of healing in burns, we carried out a review of the literature looking at the results of the use of this therapy. A review of the literature on the use of PRP for the treatment of burn injuries was performed by querying the PUBMED database using the keywords [platelet rich plasma] AND [burns]. Controlled clinical or pre-clinical studies in English or French were included. Eleven articles were identified, consisting of eight preclinical animal model studies and three clinical studies. These looked at the effects of PRP on the healing of burned areas whether they were grafted or not, on the improvement of neuropathic pain, and on distant skin trophicity. The results of recent preclinical studies show shorter epithelialization times thanks to PRP. In humans, a significant study (201 patients) validates its use in combination with thin skin grafts, and another shows benefits on distant cutaneous trophicity. In conclusion, the use of PRP topically or by injection under the skin has a potential benefit in the management of acute burns. A large-scale series validates its use in clinical practice.

It is known that patients suffering from neurological illnesses have an increased risk of burn injuries. These burns are often very severe and lead to poor outcomes. To date, only a few studies have evaluated the impact of pre-existing neurological illnesses on the outcome of burn injuries. None of them performed a regression analysis regarding specific influence on mortality. Between 1996 and 2016, 1475 patients were admitted to the BICU of a specialized German burn center: 26 had less than 1% TBSA burned and were excluded; 177 had pre-existing neurological disorders (group N). 87 patients with psychological disorders were excluded. 1185 patients without neurological or psychological disorders formed the control group. Length of hospital stay, TBSA and number of operations were analyzed using the chi-squared test and Mann-Whitney U-test. Additionally, mortality was evaluated using the logistic regression analysis adjusted for known outcome predictors. Mean age of the patients in the control group was 41.53 years with a BICU stay of 18 days, TBSA of 18.25% and mortality rate of 12.4%; 23.7% had inhalation injuries. Patients in group N had a mean age of 54.63 years, a BICU stay of 27 days, mean TBSA of 20.97%; 31.1% had inhalation injuries and mortality was 20.3%. Patients with neurological disorders were older and showed higher affected TBSA, higher rates of inhalation injury, mortality and affected TBSA, and a longer stay in the BICU compared to the control group. Nevertheless, pre-existing neurological disorders alone had no significant influence on mortality.

Treatment of burn wounds can be complicated due to fluid and electrolyte loss and the increased chance of infectious complications. Silicone-based products have become increasingly used for non-healing wound treatment, but no study has specifically addressed its potential on burn patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the use of sterile silicone gel with conventional medication in improving the healing of burn wounds. Between November 2019 and March 2020, 12 patients with mid-deep and deep burn wounds were included in the present study (average TBSA approximately 29%, range 13-51%). Patient average age was 49 years (range 29-67 years), 7 were male. In each patient two clinically similar areas were identified and treated every 48 hours with topical application of silicone gel in the form of Stratamed® (Group 1) and conventional medication (Group 2). All the cases healed without requiring skin grafting. No secondary wound infection nor allergic reactions were found. The mean days from commencing the treatment to 95% re-epithelialization in Groups 1 and 2 were 5.4 and 12.5, respectively. Culture samples were negative for common pathogens. Silicone gel has shown to be particularly effective in speeding up the re-epithelialization process. The protective film formed by the silicone helps to reduce possible infectious complications. Finally, silicone gel is easy to apply and associated with greater pain control during medication.