Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
-
Review Meta Analysis
Quality assessment of clinical practice guidelines for adaptation in burn injury.
A number of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are available for managing burn injury patients but clinical practice is highly variable. We report the first steps to trans-contextual adaptation of international burn CPGs to local settings. ⋯ Although existing CPGs for the management of burn may accurately reflect agreed clinical practice, most performed poorly when evaluated for methodological quality. Future CPG efforts addressing these methodological shortcomings would add substantially to the improved management of burned patients.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Feasibility and potential effect of a low-cost virtual reality system on reducing pain and anxiety in adult burn injury patients during physiotherapy in a developing country.
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the feasibility and potential effect of a low-cost VR system (eMagin Z800 3DVisor), used in conjunction with pharmacological analgesia, on reducing pain and anxiety in adult burn patients undergoing physiotherapy treatment, compared to pharmacologic analgesia alone at a South African hospital. ⋯ There seems to be a trend that the low-cost VR system, when added to routine pharmacological analgesics, is a safe technique and could be of considerable benefit if implemented into the pain management regime of burn units at a South African hospital.
-
Severe burn causes a catabolic response with profound effects on glucose and muscle protein metabolism. This response is characterized by hyperglycemia and loss of muscle mass, both of which have been associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. In critically ill surgical patients, obtaining tight glycemic control with intensive insulin therapy was shown to reduce morbidity and mortality and has increasingly become the standard of care. ⋯ Despite a demonstrated benefit of insulin administration on the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass, it is unknown if this effect translates to improved clinical outcomes in the thermally injured. Further, insulin therapy has the potential to cause hypoglycemia and requires frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels. A better understanding of the clinical benefit associated with tight glycemic control in the burned patient, as well as newer strategies to achieve and maintain that control, may provide improved methods to reduce the clinical morbidity and mortality in the thermally injured patient.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Multi-modal distraction. Using technology to combat pain in young children with burn injuries.
The use of non-pharmacological pain management remains adhoc within acute paediatric burns pain management protocols despite ongoing acknowledgement of its role. Advancements in adult based pain services including the integration of virtual reality has been adapted to meet the needs of children in pain, as exemplified by the development of multi-modal distraction (MMD). This easy to use, hand held interactive device uses customized programs designed to inform the child about the procedure he/she is about to experience and to distract the child during dressing changes. ⋯ The use of MMD as a preparatory or a distraction tool in an outpatient burns clinic offered superior pain reduction across three dressing changes to children when compared to standard practices or hand held video games. This device has the potential to improve clinic efficiency with reductions in treatment lengths.
-
In extensive burns peripheral nerves can be involved. The injury to the nerve can be direct by thermal or electrical burns, but nerves can also be indirectly affected by the systemic reaction that follows the burn. Mediators will be released causing a neuropathy to nerves remote from the involved area. ⋯ In burned patients nerves can be reconstructed using autologous nerve grafts or nerve conduits. A key factor is an adequate wound debridement and a well-vascularized bed to optimize the outgrowth of the axons. Early free tissue transfers have shown promising results.