Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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While the acute management of burn injury has received substantial attention, patients may undergo additional hospital based, acute care following initial management. We conducted this study to quantify and describe patients' full hospital based, acute care needs within 30 days following an acute burn injury. ⋯ Hospital based, acute care encounters are common after initial burn management. Further efforts are needed to improve the transition to outpatient care.
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Burn is a major trauma that causes physical and psychosocial impairments, leading to sleep disorders. However, the data about risks for sleep disorders in patients over 3 years following burn injury are limited. ⋯ Burn had long-term negative effects on sleep during both the first year of burn injury and the subsequent follow-up 14 years. It is important for physicians to long-term assess the sleep quality of burn patients regardless of the number of years after burn injury.
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Currently information regarding burn size from referring departments to burn centres varies in accuracy. Inaccurate assessment of burn size can lead to over or under treatment. Photographs of injuries may improve accuracy of assessment. We aimed to assess the accuracy of measuring burn size on a static image by including a standard object in the image. ⋯ Static images tend to overestimate burn size despite the use of a standard object in the image.
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Severe burns are accompanied by an acute and prolonged hypermetabolic response typified by elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins. When persistent, this inflammatory response can result in multi-organ dysfunction and death. Regarded as the standard of care, early removal of devitalised tissue and eschar mitigates this hypermetabolic response. Ascertaining the optimal time point for early excision, which remains controversial, has several clinical implications. ⋯ While it is physiologically important to perform early burn wound excision to mitigate the inflammatory response, delaying excision beyond 24 h for surgical planning, possibly up to 72 h after injury, may be a reasonable approach for certain patient groups.
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Hypertrophic burn scars remain a significant burden for patients and a challenge for clinicians.