Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Burn injuries present a significant challenge globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to standard intravenous (IV) fluid resuscitation is often limited. In such austere settings, the feasibility of enteral resuscitation via oral rehydration solution (ORS) as an alternative to burn resuscitation is a critical consideration. We aimed to investigate the barriers and facilitators perceived by burn care providers in Nepal trained to use an enteral resuscitation protocol. ⋯ This study highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement, iterative refinement, and contextual adaptation in implementing an enteral resuscitation protocol for acute burn injuries. Findings offer insights into real-world applications and future clinical and research endeavors, informing the potential scalability and sustainability of enteral resuscitation protocols more broadly, to improve the care of patients with major burns in LMICs.
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Ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser (AFCO2L) is widely used as a treatment for hypertrophic burn scars. This study aimed to evaluate clinician and patient-reported outcomes after AFCO2L treatment, safety, and identify factors influencing outcomes. ⋯ This study supports safety and improved clinician and patient-reported outcomes in patients undergoing AFCO2L for hypertrophic burn scars.
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Pruritus, a common symptom of burn wounds, arises from skin tissue damage and abnormal tissue healing. Chronic post-burn pruritus (CPBP) is defined as itching that persists for six weeks or more. The brain mechanisms underlying CPBP are not understood adequately. This study aims to explore abnormal brain function in CPBP patients and identify potential pathogenesis of pruritus. ⋯ Our data suggest that patients with CPBP show alterations in ReHo, ALFF, and fALFF values primarily in brain regions associated with the default mode network and sensorimotor areas. These results may provide valuable insights relevant to the neuropathology of CPBP.
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Burn trauma induces hypermetabolism and alters thermoregulation resulting in elevated body temperature. Because patients with burns are prone to heat loss and hypothermia, maintaining physiologic body temperature is important. However, optimal target temperature is widely unknown because thermoregulation of burn trauma has mainly been studied in the previous century, when treatment concepts differed from current era. ⋯ Classic concepts of thermal management in burn care are not universally adopted. A majority of the centers expresses the need for specific guidelines. The basis for this should be multicentre clinical trials on temperature management in burn trauma.
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Community-level disadvantage is associated with reduced quality of life after burn injury. We evaluated the association between community-level disadvantage and return to work after burn injury. ⋯ Patients from the highest distress communities have twice the odds of unemployment 6 months after injury. This association did not vary by race. Screening for DCI by ZIP code may be a useful tool to focus vocational rehabilitation resources.