Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Heterotopic Ossification (HO) is a rare but severely debilitating complication after a burn. Despite there being literature of varying quality explaining the postulated pathological process, risk factors and treatment for HO, the individual experiences of adults diagnosed with HO following a burn, remains unreported. This study sought to explore and describe burn survivors' experiences of HO to gain a greater understanding of the clinical needs for this unique patient population. ⋯ Eleven cluster themes were identified, highlighting the meaning of each emergent theme. These findings describe the significant impact the unique symptomology of HO had on the physical and psychosocial functioning of participants throughout the rehabilitation journey. Central to engagement in rehabilitation, is the participants' desire for autonomy particularly in the domains of living independently and community re-integration.
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This study examined influences on scarring after burn in a prospective study using a defined outcome measure: scar height measured by a modified Vancouver Scar Scale (mVSS). A prospective case-control study was conducted among 616 adult subjects who sustained a burn in Western Australia. Patient factors influencing scar outcome including gender, Fitzpatrick skin type and selected co-morbidities were explored, as well as injury and clinical factors. ⋯ From this study, injury and clinical predictors for raised scar after adjustment for other variables are: increasing %TBSA, greater burn depth as indicated by level of surgical intervention, wound complications and prolonged hospital stay. Intrinsic patient predictors for raised scar in patients with comparable injuries are: young age (≤30 years), female gender and Fitzpatrick skin types 4-6. The strength of association statistics (odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals) reported will be of practical benefit for clinical decision-making and counselling of patients, and plausible biological explanations for the findings support the validity of the results.
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In this study, we examined the plausibility of the mediating effect of the levels of patient scar assessment on the relationship between burn severity measured with total body surface area and burn-specific health-related quality of life (HRQL) among patients with burns in South Korea. ⋯ In the light of the poor HRQL in burn patients, the results of this study support that improving scar status could improve patients' HRQL. Health care providers should keep in mind that patients' perspectives of their scars would be a great indicator of their HRQL, so the providers' focus should be on intensive scar management intervention in their care.
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Inhalation injury commonly accompanies thermal injury, increasing the likelihood of mortality and multiple organ dysfunction (MOD). Large animal models have given important insight into the pathophysiology of this injury; however recapitulating late MOD has remained difficult. The current report describes experiments using a smoke inhalation and burn model, with follow-up of ambulatory swine for 14days with bronchoscopy, CT scanning, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)/blood collection. ⋯ Other cytokines (TNFα, IL12) transiently increased in BALF (and decreased in circulation) on day 2. Taken together, these results display a remarkable capability for the lungs to recover in the absence of intubation, with further evidence of the role of cytokines such as IL8 and IL1ra. The possible exacerbating effects of clinical practices such as ventilation and bronchoscopies should be considered.
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Burns have severe economic burden for families and countries therefore its treatment modalities have utmost importance. Several study both experimental or clinic has been reported accordingly. Although contact burns were frequently used models, most of them were manually designed. The elapsed time was recorded only. However, the real time contact surface temperature (T) and weight force (WF) were fundamental characteristics of a burn model. The aim of this study is to create a standard burn model with recording real time variables on behalf of custom designed apparatus. ⋯ Without recording the real time T and WF, it is infeasible to achieve a standard burn model. For a standard depth of burn, variables should be under control, as if our custom designed apparatus.