Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
-
Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) have potential utility as modulators of the regeneration of tissue that is inflamed or scarred secondary to injuries such as burns or trauma. However, the effect of ASCs on one particular type of scarring, keloidal disease, remains unknown. The absence of an optimal model for investigation has hindered the development of an effective therapy using ASCs for keloids. ⋯ These results suggest that ASCs are associated with the inhibition of fibrosis in keloids by a paracrine effect. This phenomenon may have utility as a therapeutic approach in the clinical environment.
-
The Baux score - the sum of age and total body surface area burned (TBSA %) - is a good predictor of mortality has a high specificity but low sensitivity. Our aim was to examine the causes of death in patients who die with Baux scores of <100, which may explain the lower sensitivity and possibly affect the prediction of mortality. ⋯ Patients with burns who died with a Baux score <100 were a quarter of all the patients who died. An important finding is that most of these deaths were caused by reasons other than the burn, usually cerebrovascular disease. This may be the explanation why the sensitivity of the Baux score is low, as factors other than age and TBSA % explain the fatal outcome.
-
The concept of the "super-thin flap" (also known as the subdermal vascular network flap) was introduced in Japan in 1994. Its distinctive characteristic is its extreme thinness: it is thinned to the point that the subdermal vascular network (subdermal plexus) can be seen through the minimal fat layer. Since 2006 in Vietnam, we have used circumflex scapular artery-supercharged occipito-cervico-dorsal (OCD) super-thin flaps to reconstruct cases of neck and face scar contracture. ⋯ The OCD super-thin flap has clear benefits, and although it is thin, its vasculature is reliable. Thus, it may be one of the best choices for reconstruction of neck and face scar contractures.
-
Randomized controlled clinical trials (CTs) are gold standard tools for assessing interventions. Although burn CTs have improved care, their status, publication frequency, and publication quality are not known. ⋯ Burn researchers should aim to register and report on all clinical trials regardless of outcome. Superior a priori design can reduce precocious termination and mandatory reporting of data fields can improve quality of reporting. Systematic review registration number: CRD42017068549.
-
It is well demonstrated that adequate burns first aid treatment (BFAT) improves clinical outcomes for the injured but adequacy remains low in many studies. This study presents a twelve month assessment of the adequacy of burns first aid treatment for patients managed by the Burns Service, Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH). ⋯ Overall adequacy of BFAT is low in the Top End of the Northern Territory. Remote dwellers and Indigenous persons are at increased risk of not applying or receiving adequate BFAT. The poor level of adequate BFAT demonstrated in this study suggests that the Top End community particularly remote and Indigenous persons would benefit from targeted BFAT education programs that are delivered in a culturally and linguistically appropriate fashion.