Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
-
The nanocrystalline silver (NCS) dressing Acticoat is commonly used in clinical practice for the treatment of burns and other open wounds as a topical antimicrobial. The dressing may dry resulting in traumatic dressing changes; hence the variety of contact layer dressings used in conjunction with it. Dressing combinations that do not permit NCS penetration are not cost effective and deprives the wound of the needed anti-microbial. ⋯ Our results illustrate that we should perhaps reconsider dressing combination choices with Acticoat in view of their redundancy or synergistic effect.
-
Accelerants are flammable substances that may cause explosion when added to existing fires. The relationships between drug abuse and accelerant-related burns are not well elucidated in the literature. Of these burns, a portion is related to drug manufacturing, which have been shown to be associated with increased burn complications. ⋯ Accelerant-related burns cause significant burden to the burn center. A significant proportion of these patients have history of drug abuse.
-
Scalds are the most common cause of burns in children, yet there is little information available about the inflammatory response. The aim of the study was to investigate the response to treatment with antibiotics among scalded children by following the C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, procalcitonin (PCT) concentration, and white blood cell count (WCC) during the first two weeks after injury. ⋯ The CRP response, among children with minor scalds treated with antibiotics, shows an appreciable rise during the first week of injury that subsided rapidly during the second week.
-
Burns represent a special form of severe trauma. Due to long hospitalization, rehabilitation, and extensive scar treatment, severe burn injuries rank among the most expensive traumatic injuries regarding associated health care costs. The presented single-burn-center experiences evaluated the effects of primary versus secondary burn intensive care unit (BICU) admissions on outcomes in severely burned patients. ⋯ Several burn societies have published precise criteria of when a patient needs to be referred to a burn center. In the presented series, patients that were primarily treated at a BICU showed significantly better outcomes regarding several parameters. In order to further optimize treatment of burn patients it therefore appears that precise initial assessment and if appropriate respective primary transport to dedicated burn centers needs to be re-emphasized, especially among first- and emergency care providers.
-
Cell-spray autografting is an innovative early treatment option for deep partial-thickness burn wounds. As an alternative to non-operative management, cell-spray autografting can achieve rapid wound re-epithelialization, particularly in large wounds. When compared to traditional mesh autografting for deep partial-thickness burn wounds, cell-spray autografting can accomplish re-epithelialization with a much smaller donor site. ⋯ Over the time period, the donor-site to burn-wound surface area ratio was enhanced from 1:80 to 1:100. A detailed analysis of all process-related biotechnology and operative problems, pitfalls, and solutions was performed and is reported herein. Strategies for future clinical studies are discussed.