Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Comparative Study
A comparison of the epidemiology of paediatric burns in Scotland and South Africa.
In South Africa burns affect 3.2% of the population annually and are particularly common among children. In Scotland paediatric burns are generally much less common and less severe. This study aimed to explore the epidemiological differences in the emergency presentation of paediatric burns in the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital (RACH) in Scotland and the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (RXH) in Cape Town. ⋯ At RACH 89% children were discharged immediately, whereas 49% of RXH patients were admitted to the burn unit. Paediatric burns are more common and generally more severe in Cape Town than in Aberdeen. All children have the right to a safe environment and protection from harm; to reduce the high burns incidence in Cape Town preventative strategies should be targeted at creating safer homes.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor hydrogel promotes healing of deep partial thickness burn wounds.
To assess the effects of recombinant human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) hydrogel on the healing of deep partial thickness burn wounds. ⋯ rhGM-CSF hydrogel promotes the healing process of deep partial thickness burns effectively. No adverse reaction of the drug was observed during the study.
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The lack of autograft donor sites with major burns provides the impetus to develop innovative solutions due to the difficulty of wound closure. Autograft donor sites are particularly limited in patients with burns involving over 50% total body surface area (TBSA). The introduction of cultured epithelial cell autografts offers a potential solution to assist in wound closure. The objective of this study was the assessment of clinical results after sprayed application of the cultured epithelial autograft (CEA, Keraheal™, Seoul, Korea, MCTT) suspension onto the wounds of extensively burned patients. ⋯ The use of a sprayed cultured epithelial cell autograft (Keraheal™) in treating a full-thickness skin wound in severely burned patients results in favourable quality of scars and also good potential to save lives by providing epidermal cover.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A prospective randomised clinical pilot study to compare the effectiveness of Biobrane® synthetic wound dressing, with or without autologous cell suspension, to the local standard treatment regimen in paediatric scald injuries.
Scald is the most common cause of burn in children in Australia. The time taken by the burn wound to heal impacts on scar outcome. Commonly scald injuries are treated conservatively; in our unit the practice is that if healing does not occur within 10 days, surgery is used to aid healing with the aim of improving scar outcome. This randomised controlled pilot study compares early treatment regimens to facilitate tissue salvage and reduce the incidence of definitive surgery at 10 days following scald injury. ⋯ Investment of surgical resources in the acute stages within 4 days of injury saved on nursing time, dressing, analgesic and scar management costs.
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Primitive man's discovery and use of fire had a tremendous impact on modern development. It changed lifestyles, and brought with it new fuel sources and cooking methods. It also introduced devastation, injury, pain, disfigurement, and loss of life, and the need to continuously develop management, training and prevention programs.