Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
-
Burn-related fatalities pose a significant global public health challenge, with a substantial impact on the elderly population. This study examines two decades of burn-related mortality data in the United States, aiming to understand the trends, disparities, and contributing factors among adults aged 65 and older. ⋯ Our analysis of 20 years of burn-related mortality data from the CDC reveals alarming trends in the United States. Unlike global trends, mortality rates have stagnated from 1999 to 2020, indicating a persistent public health challenge. Black individuals aged over 65 bear the brunt of burn-related mortality, facing the highest age-adjusted rates among all racial groups. Regional disparities are stark, with states in the top 90 % exhibiting significantly higher age-adjusted mortality rates compared to those in the bottom 10 %. Moreover, rural areas consistently report higher mortality rates than urban areas. Ischemic heart disease, hypertensive diseases, and other heart-related conditions emerge as prevalent comorbidities. To effectively reduce burn-related injuries and fatalities, targeted public health policies are imperative. These interventions must prioritize high-risk populations and adopt culturally sensitive approaches to promote safety. Additionally, enhancing access to healthcare and fire safety education is vital for mitigating the burden of burn-related mortality among the elderly population.
-
Meta Analysis
The efficacy of cellulose dressings in burn wound management: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Burn wound management is challenging, especially in paediatric patients when optimising outcomes. Superficial burns are generally managed conservatively with dressings; however, frequent dressing changes can be a source of pain and discomfort. Cellulose dressings mitigate these problems, and current reports in the literature have demonstrated positive outcomes when compared against routine dressing types. The authors aim to report a systematic review and meta-analysis on the use of cellulose-based dressings in burn wound management. ⋯ Cellulose dressings can expedite wound healing whilst reducing the duration of hospitalisation and frequency of dressing changes compared to standard dressings in burn wound management. The authors however recommend further high quality trials to enhance the current evidence base.
-
Hypertrophic scars and keloids are forms of pathologic scarring that can give rise to pain and pruritus. The link between nerve function and nerve density and the symptoms in pathologic scars (PS) remains unclear. ⋯ Wide heterogeneity between studies exists. Therefore, no firm conclusions can be formulated. However, evidence suggests involvement of the cutaneous nervous system by neurogenic inflammation in the pathophysiology of pathologic scars and their symptoms.
-
Collecting patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) has been a longstanding priority for the Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand (BRANZ). An earlier pilot of hospital-led PROM collection encountered low participation rates and high loss to follow-up, indicating consideration for an alternative model was warranted. ⋯ Collecting PROMs from burns patients in the first 12 months after injury via a centralised approach was shown to be feasible, with higher participation rates and low missingness.
-
To identify burn patients needing intensive rehabilitation based on discharge symptoms. ⋯ We identify distinct burn patient clusters based on discharge symptoms, with Cluster 3 exhibiting the highest post-discharge healthcare needs. BURN-OP (https://burn-op.streamlit.app/) identifies high-risk patients, offering a tool for prioritizing interventions and designing trials that mitigate risk of Cluster 3 membership.