Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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The elderly experience higher mortality rates and poorer outcomes compared to younger burn survivors with similar injuries. ⋯ This study identified key factors that impact mortality and demonstrated a large decrease in mortality in the elderly patients over the study period.
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Research into the treatment of hypertrophic burn scar is hampered by the variability and subjectivity of existing outcome measures. This study aims to measure the inter- and intra-rater reliability of a panel of subjective and objective burn scar measurement tools. ⋯ The objective scar measures demonstrated acceptable to excellent intra- and inter-rater reliability and performed better than the subjective scar scales.
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Electrical injuries are major contributor to burn-related mortality and morbidity. Mortality data were compared from the two largest community-based health and injury surveys in Bangladesh conducted thirteen years apart to investigate the changes in epidemiological features of this adverse health event. ⋯ Electrocution mortality rates have raisen alarmingly between 2002 and 2015. Working persons and males have a higher susceptibility to deaths from electrocution. Rural areas pose greater threats compared to urban Bangladesh. Being derived from a nationwide survey, these facts provide with useful direction to set priorities for prevention of this emerging unnatural cause of death in the country.
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Inhalation injury is a common complication of thermal trauma. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) is regarded as current standard practice in diagnosing and grading inhalation injury. Nonetheless, its predictive value in terms of therapeutic decision-making and clinical outcome is controversial. ⋯ Diagnosis and grading of InI through FOB is the current standard, although its predictive value regarding key outcome parameters and therapeutic decision-making, remains unclear. The potential procedural risk of FOB itself should be considered. This study demonstrates correlations of FOB with major clinical outcomes in both a general collective of burned adults as well as severely burned adults. Although these findings must be interpreted with caution, they may induce further research into potential harm of FOB and critical review of routine diagnostic FOB in suspected inhalation injury in thermally injured patients.
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Studies describing the epidemiology of severe burns (>20% total body surface area) in adults are limited despite the extensive associated morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of severe burn injuries admitted to burn centres in Australia and New Zealand. ⋯ This study describes the demographics, burn injury characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of severe burn injuries in adults whilst also identifying key predictors of inpatient mortality. Key findings included the over-representation of young males, intentional self-harm injuries and flame as a cause of burns and highlights high risk groups to help aid in the development of targeted prevention strategies.