Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Case Reports
Canary in the coal mine-Initial reports of thermal injury secondary to electronic cigarettes.
The use of electronic cigarettes has become increasingly popular with claims suggesting healthier alternatives to tobacco cigarettes. However, research regarding the safety of such devices has been limited to an analysis of the inhaled vapor and the short and long-term effects on the body. ⋯ Such incidents have been reported in the media but with inconsistencies from a lack of focus on the injuries sustained and a cause of ignition. The cases presented here are among the first recognized thermal injuries sustained from electronic cigarette lithium-ion battery failure, the potential rationale for these failures, and a need for increased awareness of the safety hazards of these devices.
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Scald burns, which heal in less than 14 days, are seen to be at low risk of hypertrophic scar (HTS) formation. Consequently surgery is usually reserved for scalds likely to take more than 14 days to heal. With the use of silver based dressings over the past few years, anecdotally, we have observed a tendency to improved healing of scalds with conservative management and reduced need for surgical intervention. We aimed to investigate the effect of overall healing time of paediatric scalds on HTS formation over a five-year period (2011-15). ⋯ Our study confirms that there is a link between prolonged healing time of scald wounds and HTS. The danger of slow healing for scarring despite grafting, suggests this operation should be performed earlier than current practice to allow complete healing in less than 3 weeks.
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To evaluate the current characteristics of bathroom scald injuries in Queensland Children. ⋯ This study provides important insights into paediatric bathroom scald injuries and will assist with the development of prevention strategies.
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Case Reports
A case report on a burned ear: Elastic memory of cartilage following temporary burial in a skin pocket.
Preserving exposed ear cartilage following a facial burn remains a major challenge. Normally, burned ear cartilage cannot be preserved in case of a full thickness burn of the overlying skin, and the cartilage has to be surgically removed. ⋯ We report a case where burned ear cartilage was directly surgically buried in a retroauricular skin pocket showing remarkable elastic memory: the buried ear cartilage, in this case the antihelix, regenerated over time and regained its original position protruding from the facial area. This case illustrates that ear cartilage is highly resilient, even when it has sustained significant thermal damage, and can be buried in a retroauricular skin pocket to avoid radical excision of the framework.
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Chemical burns can lead to serious health outcomes. Previous studies about chemical burns have been performed based on burn center data so these studies have provided limited information about the incidence of chemical burns at the national level. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of chemical burns using nationwide databases. ⋯ Chemical burns on the skin and eyes are almost equally prevalent. The working environment was associated with increased risk of chemical burns. Our results may aid in estimating the size of the problem and prioritizing prevention of chemical burns.