Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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The purpose of this study was to determine whether having a previous diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) changed acute care needs in burn-injured patients. ⋯ Patients with concurrent burn injuries and MS have a significantly longer LOS/% TBSA burn suggesting that more time is required to heal their wounds. Surprisingly, there were no other significant differences in the after the burn acute phase between these two cohorts.
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During the last decade, the Versajet™ hydrosurgery system has become popular as a tool for tangential excision in burn surgery. Although hydrosurgery is thought to be a more precise and controlled manner for burn debridement prior to skin grafting, burn specialists decide individually whether hydrosurgery should be applied in a specific patient or not. The aim of this study was to gain insight in which patients hydrosurgery is used in specialized burn care in the Netherlands. ⋯ The use of hydrosurgery for burn wound debridement prior to skin grafting is substantial. Independent predictors for the use of hydrosurgery were mainly burn related and consisted of a younger age, scalds, a larger TBSA burned, and burns on irregularly contoured body areas. Randomized studies addressing scar quality are needed to open new perspectives on the potential benefits of hydrosurgical burn wound debridement.
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The purpose of the research was to determine the efficacy of the Caprini risk assessment model for the guidance of prophylactic treatments for a 3-year period in the burn center of the Inner Mongolia region. ⋯ Caprini score allows for informed decision-making regarding prophylaxis strategies. Early ambulation and mechanical prophylaxis are recommended for patients predisposed to VTE.
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Self-inflicted burns are a rare cause of injury, accounting for only 1.0% of burns in the United States. While rare, the physical and psychosocial ramifications of these injuries are lasting. The goal of this study was to examine the etiologies, risk factors and outcomes of self-inflected burns in an urban setting. ⋯ Patients with self-inflected burn have a higher rate of previous self-harm behavior, psychiatric comorbidities and substance abuse. These patients are more likely to require surgical excision and grafting and expanded institutional resources compared to those with non-intentional burn with similar degree and size of burn. Increased counseling of at-risk populations may help to decrease this potentially preventable method of injury.
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Following a severe burn injury, significant hematologic changes occur that are reflected in complete blood count (CBC) measurements. Our aim for this study was to examine trend in the components of the CBC in severely burned patients over the first week after injury and compare differences in CBC components between survivors and non-survivors. ⋯ Burn-injury specific trends in CBC measurements can be used as references to determine expected clinical course of burn patients. Non-survivors have early hematologic differences compared to survivors.