Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in the treatment of burn scars: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial.
Current scientific evidence on the effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) as adjunctive treatment for burn scars is scarce. However preliminary evidence, indicates it might prove a useful tool. ⋯ Our study questions the relevance of ESWT as adjunctive treatment for burn scars as far as outward appearance, pain and pruritus as end-results are concern. Nonetheless, further studies are required to accurately assess the potential benefits of ESWT as an adjunctive treatment for burn scars.
-
Disparities affecting incarcerated burn-injured patients: Insight from the National Burn Repository.
Incarcerated patients are a vulnerable population and little is known regarding the epidemiology of burn injury and subsequent outcomes. This study utilizes a national database to assess disparities in care affecting this understudied population. ⋯ Although incarcerated burn-injured patients sustain smaller injuries and receive fewer operations they remain hospitalized for similar durations as non-incarcerated patients. Enhanced understanding of burn etiologies and injury characteristics as well as improved insight into the impact of psychosocial factors such as substance abuse and prevalence of psychiatric disorders may help improve care.
-
Many studies show a "obesity paradox", which seems to protect against death. Whether an obesity paradox space is present in severe burn patients remains a matter of great debate. Most research on the obesity paradox of burn injuries is classified by body mass index (BMI) rather than by age. ⋯ In this study of patients with severe burns, overweight and obesity had protective effect on burn injury in the younger group (18 ≤ age<65 years), but not in the older group (age ≥ 65 years). Investigating the obesity paradox in burn patients needs to consider age differences. However, multicentre clinical trials are needed to verify the results.
-
The most common burn wound assessment continues to be the clinical inspection and the tactile examination, which are subjective and remain challenging even for experienced burn surgeons. Recently, hyperspectral imaging camera systems have been increasingly used to support the evaluation of burn wounds. The aim of our study was to determine if hyperspectral imaging analysis differentiates and objectifies the assessment of burn wounds in burns of the upper extremities. ⋯ We found that hyperspectral imaging analysis effectively differentiates burn wounds and shows the ability to distinguish even superficial partial burns from deep partial burns in the near-infrared perfusion analysis feature. Although, it was not possible to differentiate burn wounds in all features. Currently, it is important to optimize the respective reference values of the individual burn degrees for an objectified assessment.