Three-dimensional imaging: a novel, valid, and reliable technique for measuring wound surface area.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of a novel three-dimensional imaging technique using Artec MHT™ 3D Scanner for measuring the wound surface area. METHODS: The validity was tested by measuring the surface area of 60 stickers (gold standard) on 20 volunteers. Stickers with standardized areas of 2590, 7875, and 15,540 mm2 were applied on the thorax, forearm, and thigh, respectively. For the reliability test, 58 burn wounds on 48 patients were assessed twice by two different observers with the Artec MHT™ 3D Scanner. Scanning, post-processing, and surface area measurements were performed by two clinicians. RESULTS: The results for the validity analysis showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.99 and coefficient of variation of the thorax, forearm, and thigh were 1.1%, 0.9%, and 0.6%, respectively. The reliability analysis showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.99, a coefficient of variation of 6.3%, and limits of agreement between measurements of two observers were calculated at 0 ± 0.17 × mean surface area. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional imaging using the Artec MHT™ 3D Scanner is a valid and reliable method for measuring the wound surface area.

Patterns and predictors of burn scar outcome in the first 12 months after burn: The patient's perspective.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to provide insight into the patterns and factors that predict burn scar outcomes at 3, 6 and 12 months after burn. METHODS: The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was used to assess the scar formation of each patient. Structural equation modelling was used. The predictor variables used in this study were sex, three age categories, TBSA, depth of the wound and cause of the burn. RESULTS: The POSAS patient total and individual item scores demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the first 12 months after burn, except for the relief item. Male patients had a lower total and items scores (better scar quality) for pain and pruritus compared with female patients. Full thickness burns had a higher scores for pruritus, pliability, thickness and relief compared to the partial-thickness burns. Ages younger than 5 years, higher TBSA values and flame burns were predictors of various POSAS items at 3 and 6 months after burn. CONCLUSION: The POSAS patient total and individual item scores demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the scar quality in the first 12 months after burn, except for the relief. Sex, age, depth of the wound, the percentage of TBSA and flame burns were predictors of various POSAS patient items at 3, 6 and 12 months after burn.

Three-dimensional imaging is a novel and reliable technique to measure total body surface area.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the diverse clinimetric aspects of three-dimensional imaging measurements of TBSA in clinical practice compared with the methods currently used in clinical practice (i.e., the rule of nines and palm method) to measure TBSA in clinical practice. METHOD: To assess reliability, two independent researchers measured the TBSAs of 48 burn patients using Artec MHT™ Scanner and software. Subsequently, a resident and burn specialist estimated the TBSA of the same wounds using the rule of nines and palm method. RESULTS: Three-dimensional imaging showed excellent inter-observer reliability, with an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.99, standard error of measurement (SEM) of 0.054, and limits of agreement (LoA) of ±0.15×the mean TBSA (between the measurements of two researchers). The inter-observer reliability of the methods used in current clinical practice was less reliable, with an ICC of 0.91, SEM of 0.300 and LoA of ±0.78×the mean TBSA. The inter-observer reliability was least reliable between three-dimensional imaging and the residents compared with the burn specialists for the estimated TBSA, with an ICC of 0.68, SEM of 0.69 and LoA of ±1.49×the mean TBSA. CONCLUSION: The inter-observer reliability of three-dimensional imaging was superior compared with the rule of nines and palm method.

Usability and effectiveness of Suprathel® in partial thickness burns in children.

PURPOSE: Evaluation of usability and effectiveness of Suprathel® in the treatment of partial thickness burns in children. METHODS: A prospective, observational study to evaluate adherence of Suprathel® to the wound bed, reepithelialization time, grafting, wound colonization and infection, pain, dressing changes, length of hospital stay (LOS) and scar formation. RESULTS: Twenty-one children (median age 2.4 years, range 5 months-14 years) with a median total body surface area (TBSA) of 4 % (range 1-18) were included. Median LOS was 10 days (range 3-20). Median outer layer dressing changes was 3 (range 1-14). Suprathel® was only adherent in wounds debrided with Versajet®. Median reepithelialization time was 13 days (range 7-29). Three patients needed a split skin graft. There were 7 (33 %) patients with wound colonization before application of Suprathel®. This increased to 12 (57 %) patients during treatment. One patient developed a wound infection. Median visual analog scale (VAS) scores for background and procedural pain in patients >7 years were 3.2 (range 2-5) and 3.5 (range 2-5), respectively. In younger patients, median background and procedural COMFORT-B scores were 13.8 (range 10-23) and 14.8 (range 13-23, p = 0.03), respectively. Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) scores were favorable after 3 and 6 months post burn. CONCLUSIONS: Suprathel® provides potential advantages regarding pain and scar formation, but extensive wound debridement is needed to achieve adequate adherence.

Surgery in metastatic breast cancer: patients with a favorable profile seem to have the most benefit from surgery.

INTRODUCTION: About 3-10% of breast cancer patients have distant metastases (Stage IV) at initial presentation; standard treatment (in the Netherlands) of these patients consists of palliative systemic therapy. However, retrospective studies have shown an improved survival in patients who received surgery for their primary tumor. The aim of this study was to assess characteristics associated with surgical treatment and to determine the impact on survival in women with stage IV breast cancer. METHODS: A cohort of women with a diagnosis of breast cancer and concomitant distant metastases was retrospectively studied. Patient characteristics, treatment and survival distilled from medical files were evaluated using univariate and multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Of 171 patients included in this analysis, 59 underwent surgery. In multivariable analysis lower age, no medication use, lower clinical T-stage and lower grade were associated with receiving surgery. In 21 of the 59 patients (35%) who received surgery it was unknown at the time of surgery that the patient had metastatic disease. Stratified survival analyses showed an association between surgery and improved survival for young patients (HR 0.3; p = 0.02), without comorbidity (HR 0.4; p = 0.002), with no medication use (HR 0.5; p = 0.009), with a small tumor (HR 0.4; p = 0.01), no regional lymph node involvement (HR 0.4; p = 0.01), with positive Estrogen (HR 0.6; p = 0.02) or Progesterone receptor (HR 0.4; p = 0.03) and with only visceral metastases (HR 0.5; p = 0.03). In multivariable analyses, younger patients and patients without comorbidity that received surgery had an increased survival (HR 0.3; p = 0.03 and HR 0.5; p = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study showed that patients with the most favorable profile receive local surgery and that a survival gain for operated patients was seen in young patients and in patients without comorbidity.