Clinical Value of Debriding Enzymes as an Adjunct to Standard Early Surgical Excision in Human Burns: A Systematic Review.

Burns are a significant public health burden worldwide. In addition to those who die, millions remain with life-threatening deformities and disabilities resulting in stigma and rejection. Surgical excision is currently the standard of care for removing necrotic tissues in burn wounds to prepare the wound bed for grafting or enhancing the healing process. However, there is a growing interest on enzymatic debridement as an adjunct therapy in burn wounds. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical trials using debriding agents for burn wound in humans in a systematic review. This was a systematic review of electronic databases including CINAHL, PubMed, Ovid Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Embase from January 1969 to February 2019. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO registry. The following keywords were searched: "burn wounds", "enzymatic debridement", "papain", "papain-urea", "pine apple", "Bromelain", "collagenases", "Nexobrid", "Debrase", "Debridase", "Actinidia deliciosa", "Sutilains", "Debrace", "piruvat acid". Those studies fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria with low score of bias based on Cochrane Bias Tool were reviewed. Sixteen investigations fulfilled our inclusion criteria to be reviewed. Six, seven, and three clinical trials on humans were found regarding collagenase, bromelain, and miscellaneous agents. Collagenase has been reported to be effective in burns below 25% of TBSA, especially in outpatients' clinics. However, Nexobrid has been shown to be effective in deep burns and decreases the percentage of graft without significant adverse effects. There was not enough evidence supporting the clinical values of Papain, Sutilains, Urea, etc. Surgical excision still remains the standard of care for burn wounds debridement. However, enzymatic debridement, especially Bromelain might help to reduce sessions for surgical debridement or area under graft as an adjunct treatment. Despite the fact, more studies with larger sample sizes and with less conflicts of interest are needed to clearly elucidate the exact role of Bromelain.

Clinical and Radiographic Alterations in Bilateral Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head Following Laser Acupuncture: A Case Report.

Introduction: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is an increasingly common cause of musculoskeletal disability with unknown etiology. Traumatic and non-traumatic factors can be effective in its occurrence. About 50% of cases are bilateral. The underlying treatment is prosthetic replacement surgical procedure. Case Presentation: We report a case of bilateral AVN of femoral heads who was a candidate for prosthetic replacement surgery but improved significantly, using laser acupuncture. The patient was a 55-year-old woman with a diagnosis of bilateral osteonecrosis of the femoral head for five years. As the patient declined the surgical option, laser acupuncture was started for pain control. Regarding the signs of bilateral femoral head recovery (according to the MRI scan criteria), a total of 3 courses of laser acupuncture (each course was 20 sessions) with 2 months intervals was performed. Ten acupuncture points: Li4, Li11, St36, SP6, LIV3, GB4, GB5, GB6, GB13, GB14, GB20, GB30, GB31, GB34, were irradiated bilaterally using red 650 nm laser, 100 mW, 1505 Hz frequency, duty cycle 50 3 J/point and near infrared 810 nm laser, 100 mW, 1705 Hz frequency, duty cycle 50 3 J/point, for 2 minutes. The patient received 3 laser therapy courses. During the first-course, laser therapy was done every other day to reduce pain. For the second and third courses, according to pain decrease, therapy was done every week. Results: The results of the MRI scans and x-ray studies show progressive regeneration of the right femoral head from VI to B II and of the left from V to C II (based on the standard table of Pennsylvania). Conclusion: It seems that this procedure may be mentioned in future research projects, especially in cases with high risks of surgery.

Effect of low-level laser therapy on the healing process of donor site in patients with grade 3 burn ulcer after skin graft surgery (a randomized clinical trial).

Skin graft is a standard therapeutic technique in patients with deep ulcers, but managing donor site after grafting is very important. Although several modern dressings are available to enhance the comfort of donor site, using techniques that accelerate wound healing may enhance patient satisfaction. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used in several medical fields, including healing of diabetic, surgical, and pressure ulcers, but there is not any report of using this method for healing of donor site in burn patients. The protocols and informed consent were reviewed according to Medical Ethics Board of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (IR.SBMU.REC.1394.363) and Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT2016020226069N2). Eighteen donor sites in 11 patients with grade 3 burn ulcer were selected. Donor areas were divided into 2 parts, for laser irradiation and control randomly. Laser area was irradiated by a red, 655-nm laser light, 150 mW, 2 J/cm2, on days 0 (immediately after surgery), 3, 5, and 7. Dressing and other therapeutic care for both sites were the same. The patients and the person who analyzed the results were blinded. The size of donor site reduced in both groups during the 7-day study period (P < 0.01) and this reduction was significantly greater in the laser group (P = 0.01). In the present study, for the first time, we evaluate the effects of LLLT on the healing process of donor site in burn patients. The results showed that local irradiation of red laser accelerates wound healing process significantly.

Effects of low level laser therapy on the prognosis of split-thickness skin graft in type 3 burn of diabetic patients: a case series.

Significant populations in burn centers are diabetic burn patients. Healing process in these patients is more difficult due to diabetes complications. The gold standard treatment for patients with grade 3 burn ulcer is split-thickness skin grafting (STSG), but in the diabetic patients, the rate of graft failure and amputation is high due to impaired tissue perfusion. The technique of low level laser therapy (LLLT) improves tissue perfusion and fibroblast proliferation, increases collagen synthesis, and accelerates wound healing. The purpose of this case report is introducing a new therapeutic method for accelerating healing with better prognosis in these patients. The protocols and informed consent were reviewed according to the Medical Ethics, Board of Shahid Beheshti Medical Sciences (IR.SBMU.RAM.REC.13940.363). Diabetic type 2 patients with 13 grade 3 burn ulcers, candidate for amputation, were enrolled in the study. We used a 650-nm red laser light, 2 J/Cm for the bed of the ulcer and an 810-nm infrared laser light 6 J/Cm(2) for the margins along with intravenous laser therapy with a 660-nm red light, before and after STSG for treating grade 3 burn ulcers in 13 diabetic ulcers. The results of this study showed complete healing in the last 8 weeks for all patients who were candidates for amputation. In this case series, we present 13 cases of diabetic ulcer with type 3 burn wound, candidate for amputation, who healed completely using LLLT and STSG. This is the first time that these two techniques are combined for treatment of burn ulcer in diabetic patients. Using LLLT with STSG might be a promising treatment for burn victims especially diabetic patients.