• J Gorenflo, B Reichert, German Burn RegistryGerman Society for Burn Treatment (DGV), Committee of the German Burn Registry, Luisenstrasse 58-59, 11, 10117 Berlin, Germany., S Reif, I-F Megas, and M Billner.
• Department of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, Burn Unit, Klinikum Nuremberg Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Breslauer Str. 201, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Hospital Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
• Burns. 2024 Dec 1; 50 (9): 107197107197.

IntroductionThe Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI) by Tobiasen, which is commonly used to estimate the mortality risk of severely burned patients, calculates an additional point for the existence of full-thickness (third-degree) burns. [1] However, the score does not consider the extent of the body surface affected by third-degree burns. To understand whether there is a way to improve ABSI prediction power, this study aims to determine the influence of full-thickness burns on survival rates and how it affects the predictive precision of the ABSI.Material And MethodsIn this study, the statistical evaluation of 2538 patients collected prospectively in the context of the German Burn Registry was carried out. A linear regression analysis was carried out to show the prognostic relevance of full-thickness burns. Age, sex, total body surface area burned (TBSA), and the presence of inhalation injury were also observed as further influencing factors.ResultsAmong the 2538 patients meeting our inclusion criteria, full-thickness burns were found in 1233 patients. In patients with a TBSA below 20 %, the extent of full-thickness burns is not relevant to the prognosis in terms of survival probability (p = 0.124). With more than 20 % TBSA, the extent of third-degree burns is of significant relevance (p = 0.000). In patients without full-thickness burns and calculated ABSI values ≥ 12 the survival rate of 46 % was noticeably better than the predicted survival rate of < 10 % according to the ABSI Score, whereas the predicted survival rate in patients with third-degree burns (< 10 %), closely matched the observed survival rate of 11 %.ConclusionFor patients with a TBSA < 20 %, the presence of full-thickness burns is not relevant for survival. In contrast to this observation, the percentage of full-thickness burns is of crucial prognostic importance for patients with a TBSA of > 20 %. By adjusting the ABSI and taking into account the exact percentage of third-degree burns, an improvement in the prognostic precision of the score could be achieved.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd and International Society of Burns Injuries. All rights reserved.

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