Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), first described in the eighties for the treatment of urolithiasis, has also been applied in other fields such as orthopaedics and chronic wound care. Recently it has also been used in the treatment of burns and its sequelae since several studies suggest it could be an important tool in the conservative management of these conditions. The aim of this article is to review the literature for published evidence on the use of ESWT for the treatment of acute burn patients and its sequelae and to elaborate a brief report on the current state of the matter. ⋯ Scientific evidence on the use of ESWT for the treatment of burn patients is weak due to the paucity of studies and their low quality. However, ESWT seems to be a promising tool in this field and therefore more high-quality trials should be conducted.
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Electrical burns are an uncommon yet devastating class of burn injuries. Shriners Hospitals for Children - Boston a pediatric burn center in New England and cares for both domestic and international patients. We utilized our experience over the past 13 years to review surgical management and evaluate historical trends for this unique patient group. ⋯ Based on our experience, epidemiology and surgical intervention varied based on voltage of the burn injury and residence of the patient. We have seen a reduction in US pediatric high voltage injuries over the past two decades, likely due to enhancement of electrical safety. It may be possible to use a similar strategy to reduce the frequency of severe high voltage electrical burn injuries in developing countries.
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Engaging in healthy sexual activity and romantic relationships are important but often neglected areas of post-burn rehabilitation. The degree to which persons with burn injuries engage in sexual activity and romantic relationships is not well understood. This study examined demographic and clinical characteristics predicting engagement in sexual activity and romantic relationships in a sample of adult burn survivors compared to a general United States sample. ⋯ The likelihood of engaging in sexual activity and romantic relationships is similar among adult burn survivors and the comparison group representing a general United States sample of adults. Further research addressing sexual activity and romantic relationships after burn injuries will help to foster better patient-clinician dialogue, pinpoint barriers, design interventions, and allocate appropriate resources.
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The number of citations an article receives is a reassuring marker for its influence in the academic world. ⋯ We found that the number of words and the number of pages within a dermatology manuscript had the strongest positive correlation for a higher citation count. The results of this study can benefit authors who may improve the citation of their articles by utilizing this bibliometric study when assembling their manuscript.