• Saurabh Mehta, Rebecca Coffey, Larry M Jones, Heather M Powell, and J Kevin Bailey.
• Division of Trauma, Critical Care, and Burn, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States.
• Burns. 2019 Aug 1; 45 (5): 1215-1222.

ObjectiveCompression therapy (CT) has been an important, but debated, treatment for burn scars. To better understand one source of variation in observed outcomes after CT, an evaluation of CT timing of application is needed.Materials And MethodsFollowing IRB approval, 126 burn centers were contacted to complete a 17-question survey regarding the center's practice pattern for compression garment therapy. Locally, study subjects were identified between March 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015 and medical records examined for timing of garment ordering, delivery and fitting.ResultsThe majority believed that compression therapy is beneficial. Most centers reported using custom-fit and pre-fabricated garments, and a goal time of application between 2-4 weeks (42%) and 4-6 weeks (36%). After the garments are ordered, 61% of centers estimate that it takes 2-4 weeks for them to arrive. No significant differences in practices were found among centers treating pediatric patients only, adults only or both. Locally, the mean number of weeks between the date of original injury and garment order placement was 9.1 weeks with an additional 8.7 weeks between the date of order and date of delivery.ConclusionsThe current study identified that although the national reporting of time to garment application is estimated to be between 2-6 weeks at the majority of burn centers including our own, we found our center to be well in excess of 17 weeks. The findings offer an opportunity for local improvement, and raise the possibility of similar incongruity between goals and practice at other centers.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

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