Evaluation of burned hand function after enzymatic debridement.

Hand burns are common injuries that can result in long-term impairment of hand function. Enzymatic debridement (ED) prevents damage to the viable dermis due to the procedure's selectivity and has become an option for obtaining an accurate depth assessment and enabling wound re-epithelialization with less skin graft use. We conducted a prospective study from July 2015 to July 2018, which enrolled patients with deep partial-thickness hand burns and treated them with ED using bromelain. After a specified period, we assessed the patients' hand function, using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHOQ) to assess their disabilities and activities of daily life, respectively. We assessed the hand joint range of motion using a goniometer and assessed scar quality with the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). We analyzed 72 patients with 90 burned hands at 3 months and, at the final assessment, 69 patients with 86 burned hands. Fire was the most common cause of the burns. Bromelain allowed for early debridement (73.6% during the first 24 h). At the 3-month evaluation, the mean DASH and MHOQ scores were 2.35 and 97.9%, respectively, with a high inverse correlation between the 2 types of scores (Spearman's rho, -0.78; p < .001). The mean wrist flexion and extension were 85.7 and 80°, respectively, the mean metacarpophalangeal flexion was 88.3°, the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) flexion was 112.9°, and the thumb opposition was 77°. The mean VSS score was 2.87. At the final evaluation, with a minimum follow-up of 391 days, the mean DASH and MHOQ scores were 0.18 and 99.71%, respectively. ED with bromelain in deep partial-thickness hand burns resulted in normal values at 3 months and at over 1 year of follow-up, with complete restoration of function and quality of life and good scar results.

Disminución de la necesidad de cobertura con injertos y baja tasa de cicatrización hipertrófica en quemaduras tras desbridamiento enzimático / Reduced need for grafting and low incidence of hypertrophic scarring in burns after enzymatic debridement

Introducción y Objetivo. El tratamiento clásico de las quemaduras se basa en la eliminación precoz de la escara; sin embargo, el desbridamiento tangencial de las quemaduras mixtas y profundas retira tejidos dérmicos viables, obligando a la cobertura con autoinjertos. El desbridamiento enzimático con enzimas proteolíticos enriquecidos con Bromelaína (Nexobrid®) mantiene restos dérmicos que pueden permitir la reepitelización por sí misma de la quemadura. Evaluamos el uso en nuestra unidad de Nexobrid® (MediWound Ltd., Israel) en quemaduras mixtas y dérmicas profundas, valorando la capacidad de reepitelización tras su uso, la tasa de injerto en los pacientes tratados, y la aparición de cicatrización hipertrófica. Pacientes y Método. Evaluamos retrospectivamente 36 pacientes tratados con Nexobrid® entre enero de 2015 y febrero de 2016, 11 mujeres y 25 varones con una media de edad de 42.89 años. La superficie corporal quemada media fue del 7.47% y la diagnosticada como profunda del 6.42%.Todos los pacientes presentaron quemaduras profundas con necesidad de cirugía para su desbridamiento y cobertura con injertos. Resultados. Tras el desbridamiento enzimático solo el 36.1% de los pacientes (13 de 36) requirió cobertura con injertos (p < 0.001).La superficie injertada fue tan solo del 2.67% frente al 4.98% que fue desbridada enzimáticamente (p < 0.001). A pesar de que el tiempo hasta la epitelización total de las quemaduras se alargó hasta los 25.69 días, tan solo un 11.1% de los pacientes desarrolló cicatriz hipertrófica. Conclusiones. Nexobrid® permite el desbridamiento completo de las quemaduras mixtas y dérmicas profundas disminuyendo el porcentaje de pacientes que requieren autoinjertos y la superficie injertada, con bajas tasas de cicatrización hipertrófica (AU)

Background and Objective. Early burn scar removal is the standard of care for burn patients; excisional debridement, however, often leads to excision of dermal remnants, making autografting unavoidable. Enzymatic debridement with proteolytic enzymes enriched in Bromelain (Nexobrid®) leaves these dermal remnants to allow spontaneous healing of partial thickness burns. This study evaluates if Nexobrid® (MediWound Ltd., Israel) reduces the need for surgery and autografting in intermediate and deepdermal burns, the reduction in the excised and grafted area, and the development of hypertrophic scarring. Patients and Methods. We conduct a prospective study between January 2015 and February 2016 evaluating 36 patients (11 females, 25 males) whose mean age was 42.89, with burns covering a mean of 7.47% of their total body surface area (6.42% deep burns). All patients would need excision and autografting as their previous standard of care. Results. After enzymatic debridement, only 13 patients (36.1%) needed surgery (p < 0.001). The area of burns excised and grafted was reduced (2.67% vs. 4.98% p < 0.001). Since wound closure was delayed until 25.69 days, only 11.1% of the patients developed hypertrophic scars. Conclusions. Nexobrid® allows scar removal in deep-dermal and intermediate burns, reducing the need of surgery and the grafted body surface area, while achieving good scars (AU)