Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association
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The aim of this study was to measure the pH on the wound surface of 30 burn patients and test the hypothesis that wound surface pH is correlated to healing time and burn depth. Inclusion criteria were any adult outpatient with burn injury. Patient age was 17 to 75 years (mean, 44), burn depth ranged from superficial to full thickness with a TBSA of 0.4 to 4%. ⋯ Wound pH was also correlated to depth at the second dressing change (superficial = pH 6.05, full thickness = pH 8.0). The correlation between pH and wound outcome could be used as an additional diagnostic tool to predict poor healing in wounds. Early identification of a nonhealing wound may allow a more aggressive treatment regimen, including skin grafting, to bring about rapid wound healing.
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Advances in burn care have decreased mortality in the past 20 years, but affecting elderly mortality rates (>65 years) remain challenging. This study evaluates the impact of home caregiver support on elderly burn patients' mortality. The authors retrospectively reviewed patients aged 65 and older admitted to their burn center from July 1995 to October 2004. ⋯ Only 21% of the survivors had a child as their primary caregiver; however, 48% of the nonsurvivors had a child as the primary caregiver (P ≤ 0.05). On multivariate analysis, age, TBSA, and child as primary caregiver were all independent predictors of mortality. Having a child as a caregiver provided the largest impact, with an odds ratio of 4.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.2-15.62; P = .02).
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Early mobilization and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis have been shown to reduce the incidence of DVT and pulmonary embolism among hospitalized patients, yet thromboembolic complications remain a great concern, especially to those who remain immobilized for an extended period of time. There are many risk factors associated with the development of thromboembolism, especially DVT. The main objective of this retrospective study is to estimate the occurrence of DVT in burn patients and to investigate some burn-related risk factors. ⋯ The study showed that the incidence of DVT in the burn center was comparable with the incidences reported in the literature. Being of male sex, a smoker, an alcoholic, high-age group, high %TBSA, use of central line, increased number of surgeries, and increased number of blood transfusions are identified as possible predisposing factors for DVTs. Further meaningful evaluation to determine the incidence of DVT in burn patients and its associated risk factors will require large multicenter, well-controlled, prospective designed study.
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The aim of this study was to report the incidence and management of ocular firecracker trauma and to assess the predictive value of an Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) in ocular firecracker trauma. The study includes consecutive case study and retrospective analysis of ocular firecracker trauma. Numerical values rendered to the OTS variables (visual acuity, rupture, endophthalmitis, perforating or penetrating injury, retinal detachment, and afferent pupillary defect) at presentation were summated and converted to OTS categories. ⋯ The OTS has 100% sensitivity and 65% specificity to predict vision of ≥20/40. The clinical manifestations of ocular firecracker trauma in Zhengzhou are more severe than in other countries, but similar to reports of other cities of comparable size to that in China. The OTS has good predictive value for ocular firecracker trauma with 100% sensitivity and specificity to predict a final vision of nonlight perception, light perception/hand motion, and 1/200-19/200.