Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Burns patients were assessed 12 months following their injury to determine the factors that predict development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among 35 patients, 31 per cent suffered PTSD, 29 per cent suffered subclinical PTSD reactions and 40 per cent displayed no PTSD symptoms. ⋯ The results indicate that postinjury adjustment factors are critical determinants of PTSD development following burns. Implications for therapeutic interventions are discussed.
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Case Reports
Magnetic resonance imaging: a new diagnostic aid in the care of high-voltage electrical burns.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect and delineate alterations in the hydration properties of tissues such as oedema and necrosis. The distinction between living tissue oedema and frank necrosis is also possible with MRI, by use of a spin-echo (SE) sequence and a fast spin-echo (FSE) sequence with a 1.5 T imager. With this background, the aim of this study was to examine the ability of MRI for early detection of concealed tissue injuries caused by high-voltage electrical burns, an entity not previously explored. ⋯ The T2-weighted images provided substantial information about the localization and amount of muscle necrosis, thus enabling increased surgical precision in the treatment of these high-voltage injury victims. FSE sequences produce T2-weighted images with increased speed of acquisition and/or increased image resolution compared to conventional SE sequence. Two illustrative examples are provided.
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A retrospective analysis, by survey, of the benefits of a support group and preference for its structure is presented. Psychosocial support after burn injury is identified as important and a support group is recommended as being routine in the aftercare for burns' patients.
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The thermographic assessment of burns using infrared imaging has previously been shown to be a useful aid in the estimation of burn depth. In this study, thermographic images of burns, obtained from 65 patients over a 4-year period, were reviewed. ⋯ A significant change in the temperature of deep burns was observed between days 2 and 3 after injury (chi-square, P < 0.01; Fisher exact probability test between days 2 and 3, P < 0.01). The results of this study suggest that thermography of burns, to assess depth, should be performed within 3 days following the injury.
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Axillary and groin contracture with limitation of abduction of the arm and leg are one of the most common complications of burns. In this paper we report the technique of using seven-flap plasty for treating axillary and groin scar contractures. The advantages of using this technique are that it does not need prolonged splinting and intense and painful physical therapy.