Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
-
Self-inflicted burns are a rare cause of injury, accounting for only 1.0% of burns in the United States. While rare, the physical and psychosocial ramifications of these injuries are lasting. The goal of this study was to examine the etiologies, risk factors and outcomes of self-inflected burns in an urban setting. ⋯ Patients with self-inflected burn have a higher rate of previous self-harm behavior, psychiatric comorbidities and substance abuse. These patients are more likely to require surgical excision and grafting and expanded institutional resources compared to those with non-intentional burn with similar degree and size of burn. Increased counseling of at-risk populations may help to decrease this potentially preventable method of injury.
-
Healing of burn wounds is necessary for survival; however tracking progression or healing of burns is an inexact science. Recently, the relationship of mortality and wound healing has been documented with a software termed WoundFlow. The objective of the current study was to confirm various factors that impact burn wound healing, as well as to establish a timeline and rate of successful healing. ⋯ When %TBSA was stratified by decile, the 40-49% TBSA group had the highest healing rate. Taken together, the data indicate that wound healing trajectory (%OW) varies with injury severity and survival. As such, automated mapping of wound healing trajectory may provide valuable information concerning patient/prognosis, and may recommend early interventions to optimize wound healing.
-
According to the ABSI - Abbreviated Burn Severity Index - women exhibit an increased risk of succumbing to burn injuries. In contrast, following non-thermal trauma, increased mortality has been shown for the male gender. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate gender-specific differences among burn patients with special regard to burn mortality. ⋯ Despite increasing research directed at women's health, the assoziation between gender and burn mortality has yielded conflicting results. This study does not support a gender-specific difference in burn mortality in our study population.
-
Burn injuries are a major cause of preventable mortality worldwide. To implement preventive strategies, a detailed understanding of the rate and trend of fatal burn injuries is needed. The aim of this study was to determine the rate and trend of burn mortality at national and province level in Iran from 1990 to 2015. ⋯ This study showed a decline in burn mortality in Iran from 1990 to 2015. Continued efforts to reduce the burden of burns are needed to accelerate this progress and prevent injuries.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Pragmatic Clinical Trial
Randomized controlled trial of the immediate and long-term effect of massage on adult postburn scar.
One objective of massage therapy applied to hypertrophic scar (HSc), is to improve the structural properties so skin possesses the strength and elasticity required for normal mobility. However, research supporting this effect is lacking. The objective of this study was to characterize the changes in scar elasticity, erythema, melanin, and thickness immediately after a massage therapy session and after a 12-week course of treatment compared to intra-individual matched control scars. ⋯ The immediate impact of forces applied during massage therapy may lead patients and therapists to believe that there are long-term changes in elasticity, erythema, and pigmentation, however, once baseline measures, the control scar, and time were incorporated in the analysis there was no evidence of long-term benefit. Massage therapy applied with the objective of increasing scar elasticity or reducing erythema or thickness over the long-term should be reconsidered.