Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Previous studies from our department reflected a trend of decreasing incidence of burns culminating from rising income levels, which were bringing about a change in the cooking fuel in many urban households [1,2]. These studies also indicated a changing scenario of increased incidence of burns from LPG mishaps [2]. In the absence of much information on the subject we felt it rather imperative to comparatively study the pattern of burn injuries resulting from LPG and kerosene. ⋯ Almost all burns from LPG mishaps were potentially preventable if more care had been practiced to ensure safety. Since majority of LPG mishaps were from gas leaks, either from the rubber tube (Fig. 1) or the stove valve, the observation of floor level cooking in 79.4% of LPG cases may be an economic compulsion of a single room dwelling unit without much impact on the injury pattern. The small LPG cylinder (5 kg) in which the burner is placed directly over the cylinder, as one unit without a connecting tube, is safer because it reduces the chances of a gas leak from an ill-fitting or a cracked rubber connecting tube (Fig. 2).
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The study aimed to explore a new method to restore functional and cosmetic outcomes for anterior neck burn scar contracture. ⋯ The bipedicled expanded forehead flap, which provided good blood supply, repaired anterior contracture in the neck and created both aesthetic and functional results; it also diminished donor morbidity.
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Infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in burns patients. ⋯ In ICUs where multidrug resistant pathogens are endemic, the choice of appropriate antimicrobial empiric cover should be guided by the intensity of colonization with these organisms as indicated by the cultures from various sites.
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Burns of the plantar surface of the foot with the subsequent formation of scar is often complicated by unhealing trophic ulcers. Trophic ulcers increase due to constant local irritation, reaching various depth and area, penetrating to the bone and the tendons and covering the area of several centimetres in diameter up to the whole heel area. A total of 21 patients (12 men and nine women) have been under our observation at Samarkand Inter-Regional Burn Center, Uzbekistan, for prolonged trophic ulcers of soft tissues of the plantar surface of the foot. ⋯ In 18 observations, a good result was achieved and no complications were noted. The grafts were viable, sensibility was preserved and no marginal necrosis was noticed. Patients can take up their work by 1.5-2.0 months after surgery.
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Few on the problem of foot burns can be found in the available scientific literature. It is necessary to mention that often deep foot burns occur in Central Asia since many natives still use the ancient means of heating called 'Sandal' during the winter months. Eighty-four patients with severe foot burns were treated in the Burn department of RCSUMA and the Inter-regional Burn Center, Uzbekistan. ⋯ As for the character of the injury, area of deep burn and the severity of injury, patients of the control and basic groups were not different. The first group included 34 patients on whom early excision was done using skin graft 4-5 days after resuscitation, and the second group consisted of 50 patients who were treated in the traditional way. Methods used on the first group, described in this article, helped to improve the general condition of patients, contributed to the restoration of their foot function, lessened joint deformities and post-burn contracture deformities, shortened their stay in hospital and also reduced expenses.