Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Knowledge of the epidemiology of burn-related fatalities is limited, with most previous studies based on hospital and burn centre data only. ⋯ This study has identified the importance of examining all burn-related fatalities. If this is not done, vulnerable population subgroups will be missed and prevention efforts poorly targeted.
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Significant disfigurement and dysfunction is caused by hypertrophic scarring, a prevalent complication of burn wounds. A lack of objective tools in the assessment of scar parameters makes evaluation of scar treatment modalities difficult. 3D stereophotogrammetry, obtaining measurements from 3D photographs, represents a method to quantitate scar volume, and a 3D camera may have use in clinical practice. To validate this method, scar models were created and photographed with a 3D camera. ⋯ No significant differences were found between the two methods of volume calculation (p = 0.89), and a plot of the differences showed agreement between the methods. The correlation coefficient between the two observers' measurements of scar model volume was 0.92, and the intra-class correlation coefficient for patient scar volume was 0.998, showing good reliability. The time required to capture 3D photographs ranged from 2 to 6 min per patient, showing the potential for this tool to be efficiently incorporated into clinical practice. 3D stereophotogrammetry is a valid method to reliably measure scar volume and may be used to objectively measure efficacy of scar treatment modalities to track scar development and resolution.
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Review Observational Study
Infant burns: A single institution retrospective review.
Thermal injuries amongst infants are common and a cause of significant mortality and morbidity in South Africa. This has been attributed to the lack of an enabling environment (poverty-related lack of safe living conditions) and the cognitive and physical developmental immaturity of infants, who depend on their surroundings and adults to keep them safe. This is a retrospective observational study of 548 infant admissions over 48 months. ⋯ The mortality rate was 0.36%. The surgically treated patients acquired more complications than the conservatively treated group. Special treatment considerations should be considered in this paediatric sub-group.
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Review Biography Historical Article
Dakin's Solution: "One of the most important and far-reaching contributions to the armamentarium of the surgeons".
Henry Drysdale Dakin is a notable person in the history of surgery, wound care, military medicine and infectious disease control. Dakin is an exemplar scientist who in the midst of war forged an international collaboration with scientists in multiple fields to create and universalize an antiseptic utopia, which saved thousands lives during World War I, remarkably diminished functional disabilities from wounds and continues to be a "far-reaching armamentarium" of the surgeons and wound care specialists around the globe. Dakin investigated over 200 different antiseptic substances to finally conclude that a 0.5% buffered sodium hypochlorite solution satisfies his criteria for an ideal antiseptic. ⋯ Nevertheless, Dakin contributed more to science than just his solution. In this article, Dakin's life story, his unique scientific career and his contributions to surgical literature are explored. The article also illustrates how a wartime necessity resulted in a medical discovery that is still in use to date.