The Journal of burn care & rehabilitation
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J Burn Care Rehabil · Mar 1993
Technical considerations in the selection and performance of walkers.
The walker is a mobility aid that provides a portable base of support. People of all ages use different kinds of walkers for a variety of reasons. With the correct walker, many people stroll along at the same pace as their companion. ⋯ If you think that your walker is outdated and is not adapting to your lifestyle, talk with your physiatrist regarding alternatives. Today, walkers are as different as their users. Find the best one for you by taking a test walk in your home and community.
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J Burn Care Rehabil · Mar 1993
Keratinocyte allografts accelerate healing of split-thickness donor sites: applications for improved treatment of burns.
Grafting with split-thickness autograft skin remains the most effective method for treating burn wounds. When insufficient donor sites are present, decreasing the time required for healing of available donor sites permits more frequent reharvests to continue the grafting process. Cultured human keratinocytes speed wound healing by providing cover and by producing growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins. ⋯ The reepithelized donor sites from three patients treated with cultured keratinocytes were reharvested. In each case these grafts took, and they were equivalent to skin used from donor sites harvested for the first time. Keratinocyte allografts speed healing of split-thickness donor sites, thereby increasing the availability of autograft skin for burn wound coverage.
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J Burn Care Rehabil · Mar 1993
Safety and efficacy of debridement under anesthesia in patients with burns.
Burn wound debridements requiring blunt or sharp manipulations are extremely painful even when large nonanesthetic doses of morphine are used. In this study we describe the use of debridement while the patient is under anesthesia (DUA) when manipulation of the wound is required. Seventy-one debridements were performed on 46 patients. ⋯ Patients were completely anesthetized during the procedure. Therefore, they were free of pain and were amnestic for the experience. We conclude that DUA is a safe, efficacious procedure that permits full relief from the pain usually experienced during a manipulative burn wound debridement.
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J Burn Care Rehabil · Mar 1993
The effects of burn blister fluid on keratinocyte replication and differentiation.
The optimal clinical care of burn blisters has not been determined. The effects of burn blister fluid and control serum on epidermal cell proliferation and differentiation were determined. ⋯ These data suggest that reepithelialization may be inhibited beneath burn blisters. We conclude that in most cases burn blisters should be debrided.