Pediatric Burns in University Clinical Centre of Kosovo From 2011-2015.

The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of burn-related injuries in children <15 years in Kosovo, and compare incidence and cause of burns with our previous study conducted over the period 2005-2010 on children with burn injuries of the same age group. This was a retrospective study of pediatric patients (n=277) admitted to the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2015. We analyzed data on gender, age, cause, location, burn size (TBSA), depth of injury, seasonality, duration of hospitalization and treatment of burn-related injuries, collected from the medical records available in the archives of the University Clinical Centre of Pristina. The patients were categorized into three age groups: infants and toddlers (0-2 years), early childhood (3-6 years) and late childhood (7-15 years). Data were analyzed applying descriptive statistics, Chi-square. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. During the study period 2011-2015, in our population, burns in children were predominant in boys, with 166 cases (59.9%), while 111 patients were girls (40.1%). The incidence of extensive burns in childhood remains high, although we have seen a slight decrease compared to the previous 5-year study period.

Cette étude rétrospective décrit l'épidémiologie des 277 enfants kosovars brûlés (âge <15 ans) hospitalisés entre le 1er janvier 2011 et le 31 décembre 2015 dans le CTB du CHUI de Pristina, puis la compare aux données relevées entre 2005 et 2010. Nous avons analysé l'âge, le sexe, la cause, la surface, la profondeur, la localisation, la saisonnalité, la durée d'hospitalisation, le traitement. Les données ont été extraites des dossiers. Nous avons répartis les enfants en 3 classes d'âge: nouveaux- nés et nourrissons (<2 ans), petits enfants (3 à 6 ans) et grands enfants (7 à 15 ans). Les garçons étaient plus souvent atteints (166-59,9%) que les filles (111-40,1%). L'incidence demeure élevée, bien qu'en légère diminution comparativement à celle de la période précédente.

Effects of hyaluronic acid and tacrolimus on the prevention of perineural scar formation and on nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve repair in a rabbit model.

PURPOSE: Scar formation after injured peripheral nerve repair is a significant clinical problem because it prevents nerve regeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) and tacrolimus (FK506) on peripheral nerve regeneration in rabbits after the drugs were topically applied at the site of nerve repair. METHODS: Thirty adult male European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), ranging in weight from 2.5 to 3 kg, were randomly assigned to three groups: the HA and FK506 groups comprised the experimental groups, while the saline group served as the control. At week 12, macroscopic and microscopic evaluations were performed and analyzed. RESULTS: In general, the macroscopic evaluations (skin and muscle fascia closure and nerve adherence), microscopic evaluations (cellular components, scar tissue formation index, and histomorphological organization), and measurements of nerve diameter and gastrocnemius muscle wet weight demonstrated the positive effects of topical application of these pharmacological agents (HA and FK506); HA and FK506 prevented scar formation and enhanced nerve regeneration. No significant differences in the parameters described above were observed between the HA and FK506 groups (P > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed between both the HA and FK506 groups and the saline group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, topical application of HA and FK506 exhibits equally positive effects, preventing perineural scar formation and enhancing nerve regeneration after peripheral nerve repair.

Electrical burn injuries of 246 patients treated at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo during the period 2005-2010.

BACKGROUND: In the developing world, the incidence of electrical injuries has increased in the past few years. Electrical injuries represent approximately 5 % of all burn admissions to burn units in the United States. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to understand the causes of electrical burns in our population, sex, age, duration of treatment, distribution of electrical burns by season, accompanying other traumatic injuries with electrical burns, entry lesions of high-voltage electrocution, location of injuries, the methods of treatment, duration of treatment, and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study that included 246 patients with electrical burns treated in the 2005-2010 period at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Kosovo. The data were collected and analyzed from the archives and protocols of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Data processing was done with the statistical package InStat 3. From the statistical parameters the structural index, arithmetic median, and standard deviation were calculated. Data testing was done with the χ(2) test and the differences were considered significant if p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: The high mortality, 9.1 %, and 7 patients (10.6 %) transferred out of our country for treatment is a reflection of the lack of a burn center in our department.