Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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The Brisbane Burn Scar Impact Profile (BBSIP) and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) are used in burn scar assessment to quantify patient health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). These questionnaires were developed using pen-and-paper delivery methods; however, there is a push towards electronic delivery of these questionnaires in both clinical practice and research. Equivalence testing is required to ensure that validity of these paper questionnaires is maintained electronically. ⋯ Findings generally support electronic delivery of the BBSIP and POSAS, likely supporting their use in outpatient clinics, telehealth clinics, and remote monitoring. Additional testing is required for subscales that did not demonstrate equivalence.
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Topical agents applied to the burn wound as first aid measures have been noted to impact outcomes. The application of cool running water is effective when administered for at least 20 min within 3 h of burn as recommended by the Australian and New Zealand Burn Association. However, the American Burn Association recommends running water for 5 min, and only in minor burns. In Nigeria, there are no guidelines for duration of water application. Other agents are often applied in the prehospital setting despite education against such practices. This study was carried out to determine the practice of prehospital first aid and its impact on outcome of burn injuries. ⋯ The application of water for approximately 5 min and the use of running tap water or water from a clean container were associated with improved burn injury outcomes. The use of non-water agents had no statistically significant impact on the outcome measures.
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A better understanding of how major burns patients recover following injury is vital in assessing trauma care and informing healthcare and rehabilitation provision. We aimed to describe the longer-term health and return to work status of major burns patients and identify factors associated with positive outcomes i.e., reporting no problems with health-related quality of life, returning to work). ⋯ The prevalence of ongoing problems - particularly with usual activities, pain, and anxiety/depression - at 24 months post-injury is high, confirming that major burns are often an ongoing disorder. Greater investment in interventions designed to reduce these problems is needed.
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The wound repair process for extensively deep burn patients is a recurring and highly challenging endeavor. A prolonged healing time beyond 3 weeks after injury often leads to compromised healing outcomes. The limited availability of autologous skin grafts remains the primary obstacle in achieving timely wound repair. This study aimed to investigate an approach that minimizes the reliance on autologous skin grafts for repairing residual wounds in severe burn patients. ⋯ Mixed grafting of small auto- and allo-skin minimizes the reliance on limited autologous skin resources while achieving superior healing rates and lower scar formation for repairing deep burn wounds. Compared with the microskin and Meek grafting methods, the mixed grafting approach significantly enhances wound healing rates and outcomes in patients with extensive deep burns. Our findings suggest that mixed grafting is a viable and effective strategy for improving wound repair and functional outcomes in severely burned patients.