Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Influences of purposeful activity versus rote exercise on improving pain and hand function in pediatric burn.
To explore the influences of purposeful activities versus rote exercises on pain, range of motion and hand function in children with hand burn. ⋯ This study supports the belief that the purposeful activity based on playing, and games can reduce pain, improve hand movement and functions better than rote exercise. As well as its reusability and versatility, suggesting another option in the rehabilitation of children with hand burn.
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To determine the outcomes effect of changing trends in patients with necrotizing acute soft tissue infections (NASTI) 2000-2008. ⋯ This is the largest cohort of NASTI patients from a single institution to date, demonstrating significantly shorter LOS and decreased non-wound infection rates in the face of increasing BMI and APACHE II scores. The increasing number of patients and BMI suggests a causal relationship between NASTI and obesity. Initial care by surgeons experienced in caring for these patients provides mortality rates well below the national average.
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Electrical burn has been reported to be highly associated with peripheral neuropathy. This study was designed to evaluate the sympathetic skin response (SSR) of electrical burn patients to determine whether the sympathetic nervous system is involved in these patients. ⋯ Increased SSR latency in electrical burn injury may be a sign of autonomic nervous system involvement, through systemic responses to electrical burn.
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Pain is a major problem after burns and researchers continue to report that pain from burns remains undertreated. The inadequate pain control results in adverse sequalae physically and psychologically in the burn victims. A better understanding of a burn patient's experience is important in identifying the factors responsible for undertreated pain and establishing effective pain management guidelines or recommendation in the practice of pain relief for burn injuries. ⋯ Three themes were indentified: (1) patients' experience of pain control, (2) patients' perception on burn pain management, and (3) patients' expectation of burn pain management. Findings from this study suggested that patients experience uncontrolled pain both physically and psychologically which may serve as an alert for awareness of health professionals to recognize and establish a multidisciplinary pain management team for burn victims, including surgeons, critical care specialists, anesthesiologists, nurses, psychologists, and social workers to accomplish safe and effective strategies for pain control to reach an optimal level of pain management in burn patients. It also provides insights and suggestions for future research directions to address this significant clinical problem.
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Inhalation injuries contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in both children and adults with burns. Pneumonia is a major compromising factor in these patients. The purpose of this article was to evaluate the characteristics, impact factors, incidence, morbidity, and mortality of pneumonia in inhalation injuries. ⋯ Each impact factor was given one point and when the score ≥2 it means patients have high risk of development of pneumonia. This study had identified the significant risk factors for potential development of pneumonia in a group of inhalation injury patients. The impact of these risk factors should be validated in further prospective trials to improve outcome or at least reduce the incidence of the surrogate diagnosis of pneumonia.