Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
-
Epidemiologic research on intentional burns in the United States has mainly been based on small, geographically restricted populations. The current study presents the descriptive epidemiology of intentional burns using data from a large, geographically diverse population of burn patients. ⋯ Data from this national cohort of burn patients support findings from smaller studies that patients who suffer intentional burns experience excess morbidity and mortality.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Suprathel, a new skin substitute, in the management of donor sites of split-thickness skin grafts: results of a clinical study.
A prospective, randomized, two center clinical study was conducted to evaluate the impact on wound healing of Suprathel in donor sites of split-thickness skin grafts. Suprathel represents an absorbable, synthetic wound dressing with properties of natural epithelium. ⋯ Suprathel represents a solid, reliable epidermal skin substitute with impact on wound healing, patient comfort and ease of care. The material effectiveness contributes to the reduction of overall treatment costs.
-
There is a need, both in clinical and research settings, for an affordable, objective method of assessing burn depth. This study compares burn depth assessment by videomicroscopy with laser Doppler imaging (LDI) in patients with dermal burns. The videomicroscope is inexpensive compared to LDI, and can visualise the dermal capillary structure, therefore potentially allowing objective assessment of dermal burn injuries. ⋯ The videomicroscope is capable of accurately and objectively assessing burn depth. The results correlated well with both the clinical outcome and the laser Doppler findings. In addition, videomicroscopy is significantly cheaper than LDI and avoids several of the disadvantages of LDI.
-
The beneficial effects of cooling a fresh burn wound were well demonstrated. However, there are still conflicting reports as to the optimum temperature of coolant, duration of application and effects in limiting tissue damage. A study was undertaken to investigate this, the importance of the temperature of, and the time period of application of the coolant. ⋯ First aid cooling of a burn wound with tap water is an effective method of minimising the damage sustained during a burn, and is universally and immediately available. Ice water cooling is associated with an increase in tissue damage.
-
Adult burn patients experience pain during wound care despite pharmacological interventions. Additional nursing interventions are needed to improve pain management. A systematic review was undertaken in order to examine the implications of previous research for evidence based decisions concerning the use of non-pharmacological nursing interventions and for future research. ⋯ Although 17 studies showed that the intervention had a positive effect on pain outcomes and no adverse effects of the reviewed interventions were reported, the best available evidence was found for active hypnosis, rapid induction analgesia and distraction relaxation. However, in order to reduce methodological limitations, further research is needed before well-founded evidence based decisions for nursing practice can be made. Aspects that seem important for future research, like the type of the intervention, theoretical framework, manner of giving instruction and guidance, cost, outcomes, measurement instruments and data collection points are considered.