Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association
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Electrical burns can be devastating and result in dreaded outcomes. Electrical burn is a common problem in our society and needs special attention because of its various modes of presentations, the numbers of organ systems involved, and the mortality associated in spite of the small percent of burns. The authors present a case of electrical burns with a posterolateral chest wall defect associated with blunt abdominal trauma that was successfully managed by debridement and pedicled omental flap over a synthetic prolene mesh.
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Parent vs burn-injured child self-report: contributions to a better understanding of anxiety levels.
Anxiety disorders are the most commonly reported form of mental health problem among youth, but they often go undiagnosed and untreated. This study examined the relationship between burn-injured youths' self-reported anxiety levels, as compared with their parent's perceptions of their child's emotional well-being. Burn-injured children were invited to voluntarily complete the Child Version of the 41-item survey, Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, which consists of five anxiety subscales as well as a Total Anxiety Score. ⋯ Findings emphasize the importance of a comprehensive approach in assessment for anxiety, involving the collection of feedback from both child and parent. Asking children for input into their psychological well-being is important. This study reinforces the need for a course of ongoing patient and parent education.
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Minor burns represent the majority of all burn patients in developed countries, yet little information regarding their outcomes is available in the literature. Minor burns at Royal Perth Hospital are provided routine outpatient clinic follow-up at 1 month postinjury resulting in increased ambulatory care demand and inefficiency due to high failure to attend rates. The authors hypothesized that improving patient education and using a posted quality-of-life survey in place of a 1-month outpatient clinic follow-up visit for minor burn patients would improve efficiency without compromising outcome compared to current standard practice. ⋯ The intervention group also reported high levels of satisfaction with service. The new model of care is an appropriate strategy for management of minor burn. Its benefit over current hospital-based follow-up is that it saves one clinic appointment, improves efficiency related to nonattendance, and reduces patient burden.
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Literature on the complications of burns is abundant. However, there is a paucity of literature on Parsonage-Turner syndrome as a complication of contact burns. The authors described the case of a 27-year-old Chinese man who sustained contact burns on the left upper limb and the left side of the chest wall, presenting sharp intense pain and swelling of the left shoulder deriving from the diagnosis of Parsonage-Turner syndrome. ⋯ The sensory function recovered and the numbness of the upper limb gradually disappeared. This case shows that Parsonage-Turner syndrome can occur even in second-degree burns with a small total body surface area. Therefore, careful physical examination, early recognition, and prompt treatment are essential for recovery of the injured limb.
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It is vital that preburn center emergency providers have the knowledge and equipment needed to treat burn-injured patients should there be an extended delay in transporting the patients to a burn center as may be the case during a mass-casualty incident or weather-related emergency. Since 2007 a collaborative effort has been underway to build an emergency-response tool kit that provides to and draws from local, state, and federal resources. This tool kit is designed to fill knowledge deficits regarding burn treatment as well as address gaps in stockpiled treatment materials. ⋯ The sum of the effort by the authors is the establishment of a tool kit that enhances the capabilities of preburn center emergency providers. Implementation has led to improved collaborative relationships, increased the awareness of available resources, and reduced knowledge deficit regarding burn care among preburn center providers. This tool kit provides greater continuity of care for all burn patients affected by a delay in transport to a burn center, and its modular structure makes it adaptable to other regions as a whole or in part.