Effectiveness of tranexamic acid in burn patients undergoing surgery - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Reducing blood loss during excisional surgery in burn patients remains a challenge. Tranexamic acid during surgery can potentially reduce blood loss. The use of tranexamic acid during excisional surgery in burn patients has recently been described in a review and meta-analysis. However, quality assessment on studies included was not performed and this review did not apply independent reviewers. Quality assessment of studies investigating the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in burn patients is crucial before concusions can be drawn. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature investigating the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in burn patients undergoing surgery. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was conducted. The study was pre-registered in PROSPERO database (CRD42023396183). RESULTS: Five studies including two randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 303 patients were included. Risk of bias of the included studies was moderate to high. Individual results of the studies were heterogeneous. In three studies of moderate quality the administration of tranexamic acid resulted in a reduction of blood loss per unit excised area, accounting as moderate level of evidence. In two low-quality studies and one moderate quality study the administration of tranexamic acid resulted in a reduction of transfused packed Red Blood Cells (pRBC's), accounting for moderate level of evidence. Postoperative haemoglobin levels were higher after tranexamic acid administration in one study, accounting for insufficient evidence. Meta-analysis pooling overall blood loss from two separate RCTs failed to detect a statistically significant reduction. Substantial heterogeneity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate level of evidence indicates that tranexamic acid reduces blood loss per unit of excised area and transfusion of packed Red Blood Cells. Results indicate that tranexamic acid can be beneficial in burn patients undergoing surgery. More high-quality research is needed to confirm these results. Future studies should focus on the dosing of tranexamic acid, the administration approaches, and even consider combining these approaches. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO: CRD42023396183.

Timing of surgery in acute deep partial-thickness burns: A study protocol.

For deep partial-thickness burns no consensus on the optimal treatment has been reached due to conflicting study outcomes with low quality evidence. Treatment options in high- and middle-income countries include conservative treatment with delayed excision and grafting if needed; and early excision and grafting. The majority of timing of surgery studies focus on survival rather than on quality of life. This study protocol describes a study that aims to compare long-term scar quality, clinical outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes between the treatment options. A multicentre prospective study will be conducted in the three Dutch burn centres (Rotterdam, Beverwijk, and Groningen). All adult patients with acute deep-partial thickness burns, based on healing potential with Laser Doppler Imaging, are eligible for inclusion. During a nine-month baseline period, standard practice will be monitored. This includes conservative treatment with dressings and topical agents, and excision and grafting of residual defects if needed 14-21 days post-burn. The subsequent nine months, early surgery is advocated, involving excision and grafting in the first week to ten days post-burn. The primary outcome compared between the two groups is long-term scar quality assessed by the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale 3.0 twelve months after discharge. Secondary outcomes include clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes like quality of life and return to work. The aim of the study is to assess long-term scar quality in deep partial-thickness burns after conservative treatment with delayed excision and grafting if needed, compared to early excision and grafting. Adding to the ongoing debate on the optimal treatment of these burns. The broad range of studied outcomes will be used for the development of a decision aid for deep partial-thickness burns, to fully inform patients at the point of consent to surgery and support optimal person-centred care.

Aetiology of bioethanol related burn accidents: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Since insight into the motivation of behaviour in bioethanol related burn accidents is lacking, this study aimed to qualitatively examine influencing factors in bioethanol related burn accidents. In order to identify target points for effective burn prevention. METHODS: Patients previously admitted with bioethanol related acute non-intentional burn injury to the three Dutch burn centres were eligible. One interviewer conducted fourteen semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and coded by two independent researchers. Conclusions were drawn based on generalised statements on the concerned topics. RESULTS: Four overall themes in influencing factors were found, namely 1) motivation; including non-designated use and impaired judgement, 2) knowledge and education; including unknown product and properties and information overload, 3) risk perception; including poor recognisability of risks and preferred trial and error and 4) thresholds; including easy availability and unclear liability. CONCLUSION: Trust in consumers may be over-estimated, as proper use cannot be expected. To prevent future bioethanol related burn incidents, thresholds for obtaining and using bioethanol should be increased, safe alternatives to ignite open fires and wood stoves should be provided and knowledge and warnings should be improved.

Exploring the similarities and differences of burn registers globally: Results from a data dictionary comparison study.

INTRODUCTION: Pooling and comparing data from the existing global network of burn registers represents a powerful, yet untapped, opportunity to improve burn prevention and care. There have been no studies investigating whether registers are sufficiently similar to allow data comparisons. It is also not known what differences exist that could bias analyses. Understanding this information is essential prior to any future data sharing. The aim of this project was to compare the variables collected in countrywide and intercountry burn registers to understand their similarities and differences. METHODS: Register custodians were invited to participate and share their data dictionaries. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were compared to understand each register population. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the number of unique variables. Variables were classified into themes. Definition, method, timing of measurement, and response options were compared for a sample of register concepts. RESULTS: 13 burn registries participated in the study. Inclusion criteria varied between registers. Median number of variables per register was 94 (range 28 - 890), of which 24% (range 4.8 - 100%) were required to be collected. Six themes (patient information, admission details, injury, inpatient, outpatient, other) and 41 subthemes were identified. Register concepts of age and timing of injury show similarities in data collection. Intent, mechanism, inhalational injury, infection, and patient death show greater variation in measurement. CONCLUSIONS: We found some commonalities between registers and some differences. Commonalities would assist in any future efforts to pool and compare data between registers. Differences between registers could introduce selection and measurement bias, which needs to be addressed in any strategy aiming to facilitate burn register data sharing. We recommend the development of common data elements used in an international minimum data set for burn injuries, including standard definitions and methods of measurement, as the next step in achieving burn register data sharing.

Laser speckle contrast imaging, an alternative to laser doppler imaging in clinical practice of burn wound care derivation of a color code.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a color code and to investigate the validity of Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI) for measuring burn wound healing potential (HP) in burn patients as compared to the reference standard Laser Doppler Imaging (LDI). METHOD: A prospective, observational, cohort study was conducted in adult patients with acute burn wounds. The relationship between mean flux measured with LDI and mean perfusion units (PU) measured with LSCI was expressed in a regression formula. Measurements were performed between 2 and 5 days after the burn wound. The creation of a LSCI color code was done by mapping the clinically validated color code of the LDI to the corresponding values on the LSCI scale. To assess validity of the LSCI, the ability of the LSCI to discriminate between HP < 14 and ≥ 14 days and HP < 21 and original ≥ 21 days according to the LDI reference standard was evaluated, with calculation of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients were included with a median age of 40 years and total body surface area burned of 6%. LSCI values of 143 PU and 113 PU were derived as the cut-off values for the need of conservative treatment (HP < 14 and ≥ 14 days) resp. surgical closure (HP < 21 and ≥ 21 days). These LSCI cut off values showed a good discrimination between HP 14 days versus ≥ 14 days (Area Under Curve (AUC)= 0.89; sensitivity 85% and specificity = 82%) and a good discrimination between HP 21 days versus ≥ 21 days (AUC of 0.89, sensitivity 81% and specificity 88%). CONCLUSION: This is the first study in which a color code for the LSCI in adult clinical burn patients has been developed. Our study reconfirms the good performance of the LSCI for prediction of burn wound healing potential. This provides additional evidence for the potential value of the LSCI in specialized burn care.

Reliability and validity of a frailty assessment tool in specialized burn care, a retrospective multicentre cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a predictor of adverse outcomes in elderly patients. The Canadian Study of Health and Aging Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is an often-used frailty assessment instrument. However, the CFS's reliability and validity in patients with burn injuries are unknown. This study aimed to assess the CFS's inter-rater reliability and validity (predictive validity, known group validity and convergent validity) in patients with burn injuries treated to specialized burn care. METHODS: A retrospective multicentre cohort study was conducted in all three Dutch burn centres. Patients aged ≥ 50 years with burn injuries, with a primary admission in 2015-2018, were included. Based on information in the electronic patient files, a research team member scored the CFS retrospectively. Inter-rater reliability was calculated using Krippendorff's α. Validity was assessed using logistic regression analysis. Patients with a CFS ≥ 5 were considered frail. RESULTS: In total, 540 patients were included, with a mean age of 65.8 years (SD 11.5) and a Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) burned of 8.5%. The CFS was used to assess frailty in 540 patients and the reliability of the CFS was scored for 212 patients. Mean CFS was 3.4(SD 2.0). Inter-rater reliability was adequate, Krippendorff's α 0.69 (95%CI 0.62-0.74). A positive frailty screening was predictive of a non-home discharge location (OR 3.57, 95%CI 2.16-5.93), a higher in-hospital mortality rate (OR 1.06-8.77), and a higher mortality rate within 12 months after discharge (OR 4.61, 95%CI 1.99-10.65) after adjustment for age, TBSA, and inhalation injury. Frail patients were more likely to be older (for<70 vs. ≥70 years odds ratio 2.88, 95%CI 1.95-4.25) and their comorbidities were more severe (ASA ≥3 vs 1-2 OR 6.43, 95%CI 4.26-9.70) (known group validity). The CFS was significantly related (rSpearman=0.55) to the Dutch Safety Management System (DSMS) frailty screening, reflecting a fair-good correlation between the CFS and DSMS frailty screening outcomes. CONCLUSION: The Clinical Frailty scale is reliable and has shown its validity, including its association with adverse outcomes in patients with burn injury admitted to specialized burn care. Early frailty assessment with the CFS must be considered, to optimize early recognition and treatment of frailty.

Improvement of burn care by video interaction guidance.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of video interaction guidance on improving the nurse-child relationship during the wound care procedures. Additionally, determine whether the interactional behavior of nurses is related to pain and distress experienced by children. METHODS: The interactional skills of seven nurses receiving video interaction guidance were compared with those of ten other nurses. The nurse-child interactions were video-taped during wound care procedures. Of the nurses receiving video interaction guidance, three wound dressing changes were videotaped before they received video interaction guidance and three after. The interaction between nurse and child was scored with the Nurse-child interaction taxonomy by two experienced raters. The COMFORT-B behavior scale was used to assess pain, and distress. All raters were blinded regarding video interaction guidance allocation and the sequence of tapes RESULTS: Five nurses in the intervention group (71 %) showed clinically relevant progress on the taxonomy while only four nurses (40 %) showed similar progress in the control group [p = .10]. A weak association was found between the nurses' interactions and the children's pain and distress [r = -.30, p = .002]. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to show that video interaction guidance can be used as a tool to train nurses to become more effective during patient encounters. Furthermore, nurses' interactional skills are positively associated with a child's pain and distress level.

Burn injury characteristics, referral pattern, treatment (costs), and outcome in burn patients admitted to a hospital with or without a specialized Burn Centre (BURN-Pro).

PURPOSE: Data on the epidemiology, treatment, and outcome of burn patients treated at non-burn centre hospitals are not available. The primary aim was to compare the burn characteristics of patients admitted to a hospital with or without a specialized burn centre. METHODS: This multicentre, prospective, cohort study enrolled patients with burns admitted to a hospital without a burn centre and patients with < 10% total body surface area (TBSA) burned admitted to the burn centre. Primary outcome measure was the burn-related injury characteristics. Secondary outcome measures were adherence to the Emergency Management of Severe Burns (EMSB) referral criteria, treatment (costs), quality of life, and scar quality. RESULTS: During the 2-year study period, 48 patients were admitted to a non-burn centre and 148 patients to the burn centre. In the non-burn centre group, age [44 (P25-P75 26-61) versus 30 (P25-P75 8-52) years; P = 0.007] and Injury Severity Score [2 (P25-P75 1-4) versus 1 (P25-P75 1-1); P < 0.001] were higher. In the burn centre group, the TBSA burned was significantly higher [4% (P25-P75 2-6) versus 2% (P25-P75 1-4); P = 0.001], and more surgical procedures were performed (in 54 versus 7 patients; P = 0.004). At 12 months, > 85% of the non-burn centre group and > 75% of the burn centre group reported no problems in quality of life. Scar quality score was < 1.5 in both groups, with significantly poorer scores in the burn centre group (P ≤ 0.007). CONCLUSION: Both groups differed in patient, burn, and treatment characteristics. At 12 months, quality of life and scar quality were good in both groups. Significantly poorer scar quality scores were found in the burn centre group. This might be related to their larger burns and more frequent surgery. The organization of burn care in the Netherlands seems to work adequately. Patients are treated locally when possible and are transferred when necessary.

The burden of disease of fatal and non-fatal burn injuries for the full spectrum of care in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: A comprehensive overview of the burden of disease of burns for the full spectrum of care is not available. Therefore, we estimated the burden of disease of burns for the full spectrum in the Netherlands in 2018, and explored whether the burden of disease changed over the past 5 years (2014-2018). METHODS: Data were collected at four levels: general practice, emergency department, hospital, and mortality data. For each level, years lived with disability (YLD), years of life lost (YLL), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALY) were estimated using a tailored methodology. RESULTS: Burns resulted in a total of 9278 DALYs in the Netherlands in 2018, comprising of 7385 YLDs (80%) and 1892 YLLs (20%). Burn patients who visited the general practice contributed most DALYs (64%), followed by deceased burn patients (20%), burn patients admitted to hospital (14%) and those treated at the emergency department (2%). The burden of disease was comparable in both sexes (4734 DALYs (51%) for females; 4544 DALYs (49%) for males), though the distribution of DALYs by level of care varied; females contributed more DALYs at the general practice level, and males at all other levels of care. Among children boys 0-4 years had the highest burden of disease (784 DALYs (9%)), and among adults, females 18-34 years old (1319 DALYs (14.2%)) had the highest burden of disease. Between 2014 and 2018 there was a marginal increase of 0.8% in the number of DALYs. CONCLUSIONS: Burns cause a substantial burden of disease, with burns requiring care at the general practice level contributing most DALYs. Information on burden of burns by the full level of care as well as by subgroup is important for the development of tailored burn prevention strategies, and the updated figures are recommended to be used for priority setting and resource allocation.

Short-term and long-term increased mortality in elderly patients with burn injury: a national longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The population of elderly patients with burn injuries is growing. Insight into long-term mortality rates of elderly after burn injury and predictors affecting outcome is limited. This study aimed to provide this information. METHODS: A multicentre observational retrospective cohort study was conducted in all three Dutch burn centres. Patients aged ≥65 years, admitted with burn injuries between 2009 and 2018, were included. Data were retrieved from electronic patient records and the Dutch Burn Repository R3. Mortality rates and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess predictors for in-hospital mortality and mortality after discharge at 1 year and five-year. Survival analysis was used to assess predictors of five-year mortality. RESULTS: In total, 682/771 admitted patients were discharged. One-year and five-year mortality rates were 8.1 and 23.4%. The SMRs were 1.9(95%CI 1.5-2.5) and 1.4(95%CI 1.2-1.6), respectively. The SMRs were highest in patients aged 75-80 years at 1 year (SMRs 2.7, 95%CI 1.82-3.87) and five-year in patients aged 65-74 years (SMRs 10.1, 95%CI 7.7-13.0). Independent predictors for mortality at 1 year after discharge were higher age (OR 1.1, 95%CI 1.0-1.1), severe comorbidity, (ASA-score ≥ 3) (OR 4.8, 95%CI 2.3-9.7), and a non-home discharge location (OR 2.0, 95%CI 1.1-3.8). The relative risk of dying up to five-year was increased by age (HR 1.1, 95%CI 1.0-1.1), severe comorbidity (HR 2.3, 95%CI 1.6-3.5), and non-home discharge location (HR 2.1, 95%CI 1.4-3.2). CONCLUSION: Long-term mortality until five-year after burn injury was higher than the age and sex-matched general Dutch population, and predicted by higher age, severe comorbidity, and a non-home discharge destination. Next to pre-injury characteristics, potential long-lasting systemic consequences on biological mechanisms following burn injuries probably play a role in increased mortality. Decreased health status makes patients more prone to burn injuries, leading to early death.

Hydrosurgical and conventional debridement of burns: randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Tangential excision of burned tissue followed by skin grafting is the cornerstone of burn surgery. Hydrosurgery has become popular for tangential excision, with the hypothesis that enhanced preservation of vital dermal tissue reduces scarring. The aim of this trial was to compare scar quality after hydrosurgical versus conventional debridement before split-skin grafting. METHODS: A double-blind randomized within-patient multicentre controlled trial was conducted in patients with burns that required split-skin grafting. One wound area was randomized to hydrosurgical debridement and the other to Weck knife debridement. The primary outcome was scar quality at 12 months, assessed with the observer part of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). Secondary outcomes included complications, scar quality, colour, pliability, and histological dermal preservation. RESULTS: Some 137 patients were randomized. At 12 months, scars of the hydrosurgical debrided wounds had a lower POSAS observer total item score (mean 2.42 (95 per cent c.i. 2.26 to 2.59) versus 2.54 (95 per cent c.i. 2.36 to 2.72; P = 0.023)) and overall opinion score (mean 3.08 (95 per cent c.i. 2.88 to 3.28) versus 3.30 (95 per cent c.i. 3.09-3.51); P = 0.006). Patient-reported scar quality and pliability measurements were significantly better for the hydrosurgically debrided wounds. Complication rates did not differ between both treatments. Histologically, significantly more dermis was preserved with hydrosurgery (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: One year after surgery scar quality and pliability was better for hydrosurgically debrided burns, probably owing to enhanced histological preservation of dermis. REGISTRATION NUMBER: Trial NL6085 (NTR6232 (http://www.trialregister.nl)).

The feasibility and reliability of frailty assessment tools applicable in acute in-hospital trauma patients: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Assessing frailty in patients with an acute trauma can be challenging. To provide trustworthy results, tools should be feasible and reliable. This systematic review evaluated existing evidence on the feasibility and reliability of frailty assessment tools applied in acute in-hospital trauma patients. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in relevant databases until February 2020. Studies evaluating the feasibility and/or reliability of a multidimensional frailty assessment tool used to identify frail trauma patients were identified. The feasibility and reliability results and the risk of bias of included studies were assessed. This study was conducted and reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and registered in Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (ID: CRD42020175003). RESULTS: Nineteen studies evaluating 12 frailty assessment tools were included. The risk of bias of the included studies was fair to good. The most frequently evaluated tool was the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) (n = 5). All studies evaluated feasibility in terms of the percentage of patients for whom frailty could be assessed; feasibility was high (median, 97%; range, 49-100%). Other feasibility aspects, including time needed for completion, tool availability and costs, availability of instructions, and necessity of training for users, were hardly reported. Reliability was only assessed in three studies, all evaluating the CFS. The interrater reliability varied between 42% and >90% agreement, with a Krippendorff α of 0.27 to 0.41. CONCLUSION: Feasibility of most instruments was generally high. Other aspects were hardly reported. Reliability was only evaluated for the CFS with results varying from poor to good. The reliability of frailty assessment tools for acute trauma patients needs further critical evaluation to conclude whether assessment leads to trustworthy results that are useful in clinical practice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic review, Level II.

Activity Impairment, Work Status, and Work Productivity Loss in Adults 5-7 Years After Burn Injuries.

An important aspect of the rehabilitation of burn patients is social participation, including daily activities and work. Detailed information on long-term activity impairment and employment is scarce. Therefore, we investigated activity impairment, work status, and work productivity loss in adults 5-7 years following burn injuries, and investigated associations with burn-specific health-related quality of life (HRQL) domains. Adult participants completed the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment General Health questionnaire and the Burn Specific Health Scale-brief (BSHS-B) 5-7 years post-burn. Outcomes were compared between participants with mild/intermediate and severe burns (>20% total body surface area burned). Seventy-six (36%) of the 213 participants experienced some degree of activity impairment due to burn-related problems 5-7 years post-burn. Seventy percent of the population was employed; 12% of them experienced work productivity loss due to burn-related problems. Nineteen percent reported changes in their work situation (partly) because of the burn injury. A higher proportion of participants with severe burns had activity impairments (56% vs 29%; P = .001) and work productivity loss (26% vs 8%; P < .001) compared to participants with mild/intermediate burns. Activity impairment and work productivity loss were both associated with burn-related work problems and lower mood, measured with the BSHS-B. In conclusion, a substantial part of the study population experienced activity impairment and work productivity loss, was unemployed, and/or reported changes in their work situation due to their injury. Particularly patients with severe burns reported productivity loss and had lower employment rates. This subscribes the importance of addressing work-related functioning in the rehabilitation of burn patients.

Burn injuries in primary care in the Netherlands: Risk factors and trends.

BACKGROUND: Research to date has mainly focused on burn injuries treated in secondary care. This study aims to provide knowledge on the epidemiology of burn injuries in primary care, to give directions for burn prevention. METHODS: Data were derived from routine electronic health records of general practices and their out-of-hours service organisations in the Netherlands that participated in the Nivel Primary Care Database 2010-2015. We studied risk factors and trends. RESULTS: The average burn injury prevalence rate was 4.40 (95% CI 4.27-4.53) per 1000 person-years in daytime general practice care and 1.47 (95% CI 1.46-1.49) per 1000 inhabitants in out-of-hours care. Children of 0-4 years old, especially boys, and young adult women had a higher risk. Burn injury risk was higher during the summer months and around New Year's Eve. Living in low socioeconomic and strongly urbanised neighbourhoods was associated with a higher risk of burn injury than living in other neighbourhoods. CONCLUSION: Dutch general practitioners have a large share in burn care and therefore can play a significant role in burn prevention. Prevention may be most effective in the summer and around New Year's Eve, and specific attention seems to be warranted for low socioeconomic groups and strongly urbanised neighbourhoods.

Aetiology of severe burn incidents in children under 5 years of age in the Netherlands: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Risk factors and mechanisms of injury may change over time. Since knowledge on aetiology of severe burn incidents in children under 5 years of age in the Netherlands is outdated, this study aimed to identify current risk factors and mechanisms of severe burn injury in children under 5 years of age in the Netherlands to direct future prevention campaigns. METHODS: Information on personal-, environmental- and behavioural circumstances as well as the mechanism of burn injury was prospectively collected in all burn centres during one year from patient records and structured interviews with parents. RESULTS: Boys around 18 months of age, who, while in upright position, pulled down a cup of hot tea over themselves, were overrepresented. Children in families with more children, having a migration background, living in urbanised neighborhoods or with a low socioeconomic status (SES) are at increased risk for severe burn injury. Most incidents happened in their own home with the parents in close proximity to the child. CONCLUSION: Outcomes of this prospective cohort study provide up-to-date and extensive knowledge on the aetiology of severe burn incidents in children under 5 years of age in the Netherlands, and provide directions for prevention policy and campaigns.

Patient-reported scar quality of donor-sites following split-skin grafting in burn patients: Long-term results of a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Skin grafting is the current gold standard for treatment of deeper burns. How patients appraise the donor-site scar is poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term patient-reported quality of donor-site scars after split skin grafting and identify possible predictors. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted. Patients were included in a Dutch burn centre during one year. Patient-reported quality of donor-site scars and their worst burn scar was assessed at 12 months using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). Mixed model analyses were used to identify predictors of scar quality. RESULTS: This study included 115 donor-site scars of 72 patients with a mean TBSA burned of 11.2%. The vast majority of the donor-site scars (84.4%) were rated as having at least minor differences with normal skin (POSAS item score ≥2) on one or more scar characteristics and the overall opinion on 80.9% of the donor-site scars was that they deviated from normal skin 12 months after surgery. The overall opinion on the donor-site scar was 3.2 ± 2.1 vs. 5.1 ± 2.4 on the burn scar. A younger age, female gender, a darker skin type, and location on the lower leg were predictors of reduced donor-site scar quality. In addition, time to re-epithelization was associated with scar quality. CONCLUSION: This study provided new insights in long-term scar quality of donor-sites. Donor-site scars differed from normal skin in a large part of the population 12 months after surgery. Results of this study can be used to inform patients on the long-term outcomes of their scars and to tailor preventive or therapeutic treatment options.

Predictability of exercise capacity following pediatric burns: a preliminary investigation.

PURPOSE: Describe the course of exercise capacity in pediatric burn patients during the initial 6 months after hospital discharge, and examine whether its recovery can be predicted from burn characteristics, sociodemographic characteristics, and/or prior assessment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Exercise capacity was assessed at discharge, and 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after discharge using the Steep Ramp Test (SRT). RESULTS: Twenty-four pediatric patients with burns affecting 0.1-34% of total body surface area were included. At group level, exercise capacity was low at discharge and did not reach healthy reference values within 6 months, despite significant improvement over time. At individual level, the course of exercise capacity varied widely. Six months after discharge, 48% of participants scored more than one standard deviation below healthy age- and sex-specific reference values. SRT outcomes at 6 weeks and 3 months were the best predictors of exercise capacity 6 months after discharge, explaining, respectively, 76% and 93% of variance. CONCLUSIONS: Forty-eight percent of participants did not achieve healthy reference values of exercise capacity and were therefore considered "at risk" for diminished functioning. Our preliminary conclusion that early assessment of exercise capacity with the SRT can timely identify those patients, needs to be strengthened by further research.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONPediatric burns can be considered as a chronic medical condition because of the lifelong consequences.Exercise capacity is reduced following- even minor -pediatric burns.Recovery patterns vary widely: some pediatric burn patients achieve healthy levels of exercise capacity without specific intervention, while others do not.The Steep Ramp Test can be used to assess exercise capacity, identifying those "at risk" for adverse outcomes at an early stage.Patients "at risk" should be encouraged to play sports and adopt an active lifestyle.

Burns in the elderly: a nationwide study on management and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: In modern-day burn care, advanced age remains an important predictor for mortality among burn victims. In this study, we compared the complete treatment trajectory (including pre-hospital and surgical treatment) and the outcomes between an elderly burn population and a younger adult burn population. METHODS: In this nationwide study, data from the Dutch Burn Repository were used. This is a uniform national registration for Dutch specialized burn care. All adult patients that were admitted to one of the three Dutch burn centres from the period 2009 to 2015 were included in the analysis. Burn patients were considered as elderly when ≥65 years of age, and were then further subdivided into three age categories: 65-74, 75-85 and 85+ years. Younger adults in the age category 18-64 years were used as the reference group.Surgical management was studied comprehensively and included timing of surgery, the number of procedures and details on the surgical technique, especially the technique used for debridement and the grafting technique that was applied.For the comparison of clinical outcome, the following parameters were included: mortality, wound infections, length of stay/TBSA (total body surface area) burned, discharge disposition and secondary reconstructions. RESULTS: During the study period, 3155 adult patients were included (elderly, n = 505). Burn severity, reflected by the median TBSA, varied between 3.2-4.0% and was comparable, but aetiology and pre-hospital care were different between elderly and the younger adult reference group.Surgical treatment was initiated significantly faster in elderly burn patients (p < 0.001). Less selective techniques for surgical debridement were used in the elderly burns patients (hydrosurgery, 42.0% vs 23.5-22.6%), and on the other hand more avulsion (5.3% vs 7.3-17.6%) and primary wound closure (6.7% vs 24.5%). The most frequently used grafting technique was meshed skin grafts (79.2-88.6%); this was not related to age.Mortality increased rapidly with a higher age and showed a high peak in the 85+ category (23.8%). Furthermore, considerable differences were found in hospital discharge disposition between the elderly and the reference group. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, elderly burn patients who require specialized burn care are vulnerable and medically challenging. Differences in aetiology, comorbidity, physiology and the management prior to admission possibly affect the initial surgical management and result in significantly worse outcomes in elderly. Elderly patients need optimal, timely and specialized burn care to enhance survival after burn injuries.

Topical treatment for facial burns.

BACKGROUND: Burn injuries are an important health problem. They occur frequently in the head and neck region. The face is the area central to a person's identity that provides our most expressive means of communication. Topical interventions are currently the cornerstone of treatment of burns to the face. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of topical interventions on wound healing in people with facial burns of any depth. SEARCH METHODS: In December 2019 we searched the Cochrane Wounds Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); Ovid MEDLINE (including In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations); Ovid Embase and EBSCO CINAHL Plus. We also searched clinical trials registries for ongoing and unpublished studies, and scanned reference lists of relevant included studies as well as reviews, meta-analyses and health technology reports to identify additional studies. There were no restrictions with respect to language, date of publication or study setting. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of topical treatment for facial burns were eligible for inclusion in this review. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently performed study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment and GRADE assessment of the certainty of the evidence. MAIN RESULTS: In this first update, we included 12 RCTs, comprising 507 participants. Most trials included adults admitted to specialised burn centres after recent burn injuries. Topical agents included antimicrobial agents (silver sulphadiazine (SSD), Aquacel-Ag, cerium-sulphadiazine, gentamicin cream, mafenide acetate cream, bacitracin), non-antimicrobial agents (Moist Exposed Burn Ointment (MEBO), saline-soaked dressings, skin substitutes (including bioengineered skin substitute (TransCyte), allograft, and xenograft (porcine Xenoderm), and miscellaneous treatments (growth hormone therapy, recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor hydrogel (rhGMCS)), enzymatic debridement, and cream with Helix Aspersa extract). Almost all the evidence included in this review was assessed as low or very low-certainty, often because of high risk of bias due to unclear randomisation procedures (i.e. sequence generation and allocation concealment); lack of blinding of participants, providers and sometimes outcome assessors; and imprecision resulting from few participants, low event rates or both, often in single studies. Topical antimicrobial agents versus topical non-antimicrobial agents There is moderate-certainty evidence that there is probably little or no difference between antimicrobial agents and non-antimicrobial agents (SSD and MEBO) in time to complete wound healing (hazard ratio (HR) 0.84 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78 to 1.85, 1 study, 39 participants). Topical antimicrobial agents may make little or no difference to the proportion of wounds completely healed compared with topical non-antimicrobial agents (comparison SSD and MEBO, risk ratio (RR) 0.94, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.29; 1 study, 39 participants; low-certainty evidence). We are uncertain whether there is a difference in wound infection (comparison topical antimicrobial agent (Aquacel-Ag) and MEBO; RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.12 to 1.21; 1 study, 40 participants; very low-certainty evidence). No trials reported change in wound surface area over time or partial wound healing. There is low-certainty evidence for the secondary outcomes scar quality and patient satisfaction. Two studies assessed pain but it was incompletely reported. Topical antimicrobial agents versus other topical antimicrobial agents It is uncertain whether topical antimicrobial agents make any difference in effects as the evidence is low to very low-certainty. For primary outcomes, there is low-certainty evidence for time to partial (i.e. greater than 90%) wound healing (comparison SSD versus cerium SSD: mean difference (MD) -7.10 days, 95% CI -16.43 to 2.23; 1 study, 142 participants). There is very low-certainty evidence regarding whether topical antimicrobial agents make a difference to wound infection (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.17; 1 study, 15 participants). There is low to very low-certainty evidence for the proportion of facial burns requiring surgery, pain, scar quality, adverse effects and length of hospital stay. Skin substitutes versus topical antimicrobial agents There is low-certainty evidence that a skin substitute may slightly reduce time to partial (i.e. greater than 90%) wound healing, compared with a non-specified antibacterial agent (MD -6.00 days, 95% CI -8.69 to -3.31; 1 study, 34 participants). We are uncertain whether skin substitutes in general make any other difference in effects as the evidence is very low certainty. Outcomes included wound infection, pain, scar quality, adverse effects of treatment and length of hospital stay. Single studies showed contrasting low-certainty evidence. A bioengineered skin substitute may slightly reduce procedural pain (MD -4.00, 95% CI -5.05 to -2.95; 34 participants) and background pain (MD -2.00, 95% CI -3.05 to -0.95; 34 participants) compared with an unspecified antimicrobial agent. In contrast, a biological dressing (porcine Xenoderm) might slightly increase pain in superficial burns (MD 1.20, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.75; 15 participants (30 wounds)) as well as deep partial thickness burns (MD 3.00, 95% CI 2.34 to 3.66; 10 participants (20 wounds)), compared with antimicrobial agents (Physiotulle Ag (Coloplast)). Miscellaneous treatments versus miscellaneous treatments Single studies show low to very low-certainty effects of interventions. Low-certainty evidence shows that MEBO may slightly reduce time to complete wound healing compared with saline soaked dressing (MD -1.7 days, 95% CI -3.32 to -0.08; 40 participants). In addition, a cream containing Helix Aspersa may slightly increase the proportion of wounds completely healed at 14 days compared with MEBO (RR 4.77, 95% CI 1.87 to 12.15; 43 participants). We are uncertain whether any miscellaneous treatment in the included studies makes a difference in effects for the outcomes wound infection, scar quality, pain and patient satisfaction as the evidence is low to very low-certainty. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is mainly low to very low-certainty evidence on the effects of any topical intervention on wound healing in people with facial burns. The number of RCTs in burn care is growing, but the body of evidence is still hampered due to an insufficient number of studies that follow appropriate evidence-based standards of conducting and reporting RCTs.