Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Social support and spirituality are important issues among burn survivors that appear to affect their posttraumatic growth (PTG). ⋯ The mediating role of spirituality should provide new visions for the augmentation of PTG in burn survivors.
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After similar extent of injury there is considerable variability in scarring between individuals, in part due to genetic factors. This study aimed to identify genetic variants associated with scar height and pliability after burn injury. An exome-wide array association study and gene pathway analysis were performed on a prospective cohort of 665 patients treated for burn injury. ⋯ Using this approach biological processes related to the nervous system and cell adhesion were the predominant gene pathways associated with both SH and SP. This study suggests genes associated with innervation may be important in scar fibrosis. Further studies using similar and larger datasets will be essential to validate these findings.
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The scalp is the only hidden donor site for split thickness skin grafts. Nevertheless, it is underappreciated due to fear of iatrogenic scarring alopecia. Long-term data showing whether androgenetic hair loss can reveal previously hidden scarring alopecia is unavailable. We aimed to evaluate results and patient satisfaction up to 30years after skin harvest from the scalp. ⋯ Long-term morbidity of scalp skin harvest and the risk of clinically significant alopecia is very low while patient satisfaction is high. AGA is unlikely to reveal harvest damage previously hidden by regrown hair.
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Global use of the internet has become commonplace, and smart phones have paved the way for technological mobility. Incorporation of smart phone technology has the potential to positively affect health outcomes through use of health-directed applications (apps), particularly for those patients living in medically underserved areas. The Bridge Mobile App for Burn Patients (fka: HealthySteps), is a pilot project that was developed to address the unique recovery needs of patients with major burn injuries who are being discharged from a regional burn center. ⋯ Original recovery-stage appropriate bio-psycho-social content, instructional videos and links to burn-supportive web sites are delivered directly to patients' smart phones for the first 90days following discharge. The primary goal for the Bridge App is to decrease unplanned hospital re-admissions, while supporting increased quality of life and resilience in short-term recovery. In addition, the Bridge Mobile App is designed to collect patient data reflecting pain, anxiety, mood, itching, medication compliance, social participation, self-efficacy and return to work on a password protected, HIPPA compliant, encrypted mainframe.
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A high prevalence of self-inflicted burn injury is noted in severe burn injury. It remains unclear as to whether gender and past psychiatric history impact upon whether injury is self-inflicted and the outcomes. ⋯ Psychiatric clinicians should assertively screen the psychiatric history of patients with severe burn injury, and participate in the acute and longer-term management of persons admitted with a self-inflicted burn.