Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Burns are a very painful skin injury, or injury of soft tissues. The development of post-traumatic stress disorder can develop, even in those with minor injuries (Ia-IIb degree). Development of problems is very rapid and intense since, according to developmental embryology, the skin and central nervous system (CNS) descend from the same germ layer-ectoderm. ⋯ The time of the first application of the ACU treatment after burn was followed and evaluated with a random set. The best results were achieved when the first ACU treatment was applied as soon as possible after BT injury (ideally immediately, optimally within 48h). The positive effect of ACU on burns is medical, economical and biopsychosocial.
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Split thickness skin grafting is a commonly used technique in burn surgery for resurfacing wounds that are unlikely to heal without scarring. Meshing and expanding skin grafts allow for reconstruction of larger wounds with smaller donor sites. ⋯ A larger burn size is the major influencing factor for the use of higher skin graft meshing ratios by Canadian burn surgeons. Furthermore, burn location determines the choice of donor and recipient sites in these cases.
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Methylene blue reduces progression of burn and increases skin survival in an experimental rat model.
Following burn, increased nitric oxide (NO) combine with superoxide anion forming peroxynitrite. Methylene blue (MB) has NO blocking and antioxidant effects. Male Wistar rats (250g) were burned bilaterally in dorsum with a comb metal plate heated inside boiling water and applied during 30s, creating four rectangular 10×20mm full-thickness burned areas separated by three 5×20mm unburned interspaces (stasis zone). 30 rats were randomized into three groups (n=10): treated groups received one dose of intraperitoneal (IP) MB injections (2mg/kg), one or six hours after injury, and control group received saline. ⋯ Interspace's NOx increased in both MB groups (P=0.0130) with no difference in burned areas. No MDA difference was observed. IP MB injection one or six hours after injury reduced necrosis progression in stasis area in the rat comb burn model suggesting an antioxidant effect reducing oxidative stress.
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Various types of psychological screening are currently used in the UK to identify burn patients who are experiencing psychological distress and may need additional support and intervention during their hospital admission. This audit compared two types of psychological screening in 40 burn inpatients. One screening method was an unpublished questionnaire designed to explore multiple areas of potential distress for those who have experienced burns. ⋯ However, both screening methods identified patients who were in need of psychological input when the other did not. This suggests that psychological screening of burns inpatients, and the psychological difficulties that they can present with, is complex. The advantages and disadvantages of both methods of screening are discussed.
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An overabundant discharge of inflammatory mediators plays a significant role in intestinal injury throughout the early stages of critical burns. The present study aims to explore the outcome of 200mM hypertonic saline (HS) resuscitation on the intestinal injury of critically burned rats. ⋯ The overall findings of this study suggest that preliminary resuscitation with 200mM HS after severe thermal injury reduces intestinal edema, inhibits systemic inflammatory response, and attenuates intestinal p38 MAPK activation, thus reduces burns-induced intestinal injury.