Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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The non-linear viscoelastic properties of skin tissue were characterized by modulus of elasticity E, which represents stiffness, and percentage extension (strain, xi) at load intensities of 20, 40 and 100 gm. The latter property is a measure of the extensibility for both normal skin and hypertrophic scar. A quasi-static extensometer applies a standard rate of extension to the skin and its mechanical properties were obtained from 15 Chinese patients with burn injuries of superficial to full skin thickness burns. ⋯ Using mechanical properties assists in the characterization by providing a quantitative indicator. Higher scar grading is synonymous with increased stiffness and decreased extensibility. Correlation with clinical assessment was achieved with these in vivo viscoelastic properties.
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In a prospective study, data on 175 patients treated between June 1993 and February 1994 has been analysed. In this series, adolescents and young adults (11-40 years) comprised 79.4 per cent of the patients. ⋯ The overall mortality rate was 56.5 per cent, below 40 per cent surface area burned (%BSAB) it was 6.1 per cent and above 70 per cent it was 100 per cent. Flame burns resulted in maximum deaths (86.1 per cent). 40 per cent of the patients had more than 70 per cent BSAB burns in this series, which accounts for the high mortality.
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Six hands from five patients were seen with full-thickness burns following a ritual practice between June 1993 and June 1994. Three hands were treated with excision and medium-thickness split-skin grafts, one patient was treated with a medium-thickness split skin graft taken from the instep of the foot. The first patient with bilateral burns of the palms refused surgery and returned 3 months later with contractures of the palms. The results of the treated hands are presented.
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An unusual full-thickness burn of the scalp and cranial bones due to a lightning strike is reported. A thick nylon cover protected the head from the direct effects of the lightning injury, but heated water over the thick nylon cover caused full-thickness burn of the scalp and cranial bones. The relevant literature has been reviewed.