Burn Center Patients at Risk for Upper Extremity Amputations.

Introduction Burn center patients present not only with burn injuries but also necrotizing infections, purpura fulminans, frostbite, toxic epidermal necrolysis, chronic wounds, and trauma. Burn surgeons are often faced with the need to amputate when limb salvage is no longer a viable option. The purpose of this study was to determine factors which predispose patients to extremity amputations. Methods: This retrospective registry review (2000-2019) compared patients who required upper extremity amputations with those who did not. Cases were pair-matched by age, sex, percent total body surface area (%TBSA), and type/location of injury to control for possible confounding variables. Results: There were 77 upper extremity amputee patients (APs) and 77 pair-matched non-amputees (NAPs) with the median age 45- and 43-years, %TBSA 21 and 10, respectively; second and third degree burn injuries were similar in the 2 groups. The AP group had longer hospitalizations (median 40 vs 15 days) P < .0001, with more intensive care unit days (median 28 vs 18 days). APs presented with significantly more cardiac, renal, and pulmonary comorbidities, acquired infections (61 [64%] vs 35 [36%]), escharotomies, and fasciotomies than the NAP, P < .0001. Mortality was similar (AP 14 [18.2%] vs NAP 9 [11.7%]), P = .26. Conclusions: Escharotomies, fasciotomies, sepsis, pneumonia, wound, and urinary tract infections contributed to prolonged hospitalizations and increased risk for upper extremity amputations in the AP group.

Introduction Les patients des centres de grands brûlés ne présentent pas seulement des lésions dues aux brûlures, mais aussi des infections nécrosantes, un purpura fulminans, des gelures, une épidermolyse bulleuse toxique, des plaies chroniques et des traumatismes. Les chirurgiens pour brûlés sont souvent confrontés au besoin d'amputer quand le sauvetage d'un membre n'est plus une option valable. L'objectif de cette étude était de déterminer les facteurs prédisposant les patients aux amputations de membres. Méthodes: Cette analyse rétrospective d'un registre (2000-2019) a comparé les patients ayant nécessité une amputation d'un membre supérieur à ceux pour lesquels l'amputation n'a pas été nécessaire. Les cas ont été appariés par âge, sexe, pourcentage de la surface corporelle totale (%SCT) et le type/emplacement des lésions pour contrôler les possibles variables confondantes. Résultats: Il y a eu 77 patients amputés (PA) du membre supérieur et 77 patients non amputés (PNA) appariés ayant, respectivement, un âge médian de 45 et 43 ans et un %SCT de 21% et 10%; les lésions par brûlures des 2e et 3e degrés étaient similaires dans les deux groupes. La durée d'hospitalisation pour le groupe PA a été plus longue que pour le groupe PNA (médiane : 40 jours contre 15 jours; P < .0001) avec un plus grand nombre de jours en unité de soins intensifs (médiane : 28 jours contre 18 jours). Les patients du groupe PA avaient plus de comorbidités cardiaques, rénales et pulmonaires et d'infections acquises (61 [64%] contre 35 [36%]), d'escarrotomies et d'aponévrotomies que les patients du groupe PNA (P <.0001). La mortalité a été semblable dans les deux groupes (PA: 14 [18.2%] contre PNA: 9 [11.7%], P = .26). Conclusion: Les incisions de décharge, les aponévrotomies, le sepsis, les pneumonies, les infections des plaies et des voies urinaires ont contribué à des hospitalisations prolongées et à une augmentation du risque d'amputation du membre supérieur dans le groupe PA.

Rare Operative Intervention for Urinary and Fecal Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis.

Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is considered a cause of moisture-associated skin damage after prolonged exposure to urinary and fecal incontinence. While partial-thickness burns are often managed with topical therapies, daily dressing changes, patient positioning, hydration, nutrition, and pain management, deep partial-thickness and full-thickness burn injuries require surgical excision and, ultimately, skin grafting. The elderly and very young as well as those with medical comorbidities can develop urinary and fecal incontinence. Urinary ammonia and gastrointestinal lipolytic enzymes and proteases can produce caustic damage to weakened elderly or immature skin. In this report, 2 cases of IAD are presented as chemical burns. After a prolonged interval of urinary and fecal incontinence, an incapacitated 65-year-old male with 14% total body surface area (TBSA) partial-thickness wounds, and an 85-year-old female with 4% TBSA full-thickness wounds were admitted to the burn center and underwent operative management.

Trephination and subatmospheric pressure therapy in the management of extremity exposed bone.

BACKGROUND: Distal lower and upper extremity wounds with bone and tendon exposure present unique challenges to reconstructive surgeons. The limitations of the local anatomy usually make simpler reconstructive modalities such as primary closure and skin grafting difficult. As a result, wounds in this area, especially ones with bone or tendon exposures, are classically treated with free tissue transfer. METHODS: Limb preservation using the combination of bone trephination and subatmospheric pressure therapy is described. RESULTS: Six cases with preserved extremities are presented. Three cases illustrate extremity wound with bone and tendon exposure healing through pregrafting wound optimization (bone trephination) with the use of subatmospheric pressure therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This treatment may offer an alternative method of limb salvage, in cases where flaps or free tissue transfer are not possible or optimal.

Bronchoalveolar lavage and plasma Antithrombin and cytokines in inhalation and burn injury: a pilot study.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is initiated during the acute phase of thermal injury. The objective was to determine the SIRS impact on cytokine and Antithrombin (AT) levels in smoke inhalation and burn injury. This observational pilot study compared plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) cytokine and AT levels in the first six days post smoke inhalation and burn injury. Twenty-five patients, 14 with inhalation + burn injury > 10% total body surface area (TBSA) and 11 with inhalation injury and ≤ 10% TBSA participated. Human Th1/Th2 cytometric bead array kit from BD Biosciences Pharmingen determined cytokine levels; AT levels with Sigma Diagnostics and spectrophotometry. Results indicated no significant age difference between the two groups (42.1 ± 7.2) versus 49.6 ± 6.4 years. On admission, the inhalation group had 5.4 ± 3.9% TBSA compared to 35.0 ± 22.2% TBSA in the inhalation + burn group, P < 0.001. Comparing groups, AT plasma levels were significantly decreased (P = 0.025) and IL-2 levels significantly increased (P = 0.025) in the inhalation + burn group compared to the inhalation group; there was no significant difference in BAL AT or cytokine levels. Combined group plasma AT levels (65.41 ± 4.44%) were significantly increased compared to BAL AT levels (1.06 ± 0.71%), P < 0.001. In contrast, BAL TNF-α levels (35.61 ± 16.01 pg/ml) were significantly increased in relation to the plasma levels (4.68 ± 1.27 pg/ml), P = 0.02. On days 1-2, AT plasma levels were significantly decreased in the inhalation + burn group (41.01 ± 5.24%) compared to the inhalation group (81.02 ± 10.99%), P = 0.002. IL-6 plasma levels were higher in the inhalation + burn group compared to the inhalation group on admission, but both levels decreased by days 3-6. IL-6 BAL levels were elevated in both groups on days 1-2 and decreased by days 3-6. In the first six days of resuscitation, all plasma cytokines were increased in the two groups compared to controls. AT plasma and BAL levels were significantly reduced in both groups, contributing to the coagulopathy. Increased BAL TNF-α and IL-6 levels may have contributed to the pulmonary perturbations during the initial SIRS response in both groups.

Component separation technique for abdominal wall reconstruction in burn patients with decompressive laparotomies.

BACKGROUND: Component separation technique has been used successfully in ventral hernia repair occurring after damage control surgery. Abdominal compartment syndrome, seen in severely injured burn patients, frequently requires decompressive laparotomy. The patient is at risk during this time not only for burn injury complications but also for those from an open abdomen. METHODS: This report presents the successful application of the component separation technique for early closure of decompressive laparotomies in patients with >75% total body surface area burn, which included the abdominal wall. RESULTS: Skin flaps (necrotic/burned skin) overlying the abdominal wall fascia were raised bilaterally at the costal margin, from the anterior superior iliac spine inferiorly to the ribs superiorly. An incision was made just lateral to the rectus sheath through the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle. With this, the fascia was mobilized to the middle with no tension. With no elevation of the patient's intrathoracic pressure on closure of the abdomen, multiple no. 2 Ethibond fascial figure of eight sutures closed the abdomen. Skin flaps were excised, so that grafting of the abdominal wall could occur. CONCLUSION: Burn patients, who required decompressive laparotomies for abdominal compartment syndrome in response to massive fluid resuscitation, tolerated early closure by the modified component separation technique. This markedly improved the care of these critically burned individuals, allowing for less third space fluid loss, less difficulty in management of the open abdominal wound, along with decreased risk of potential enterocutaneous fistula and intraabdominal abscess formation.

"Streets of Fire" revisited: contact burns.

BACKGROUND: Pavement-street contact burns are rare. This study compared recent contact burns to those published in "Pavement temperature and burns: Streets of Fire" in 1995. The hypothesis was that there were a significantly increased number of pavement-street burns, as a result of increased ambient temperatures, and that motor vehicle crash (MVC) contact burns were less severe than pavements-street burns. METHODS: This was a retrospective burn center registry study of naturally heated surface contact burns during May to September from 2016 to 2018. Statistical analyses were performed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Maximum Likelihood chi-squared for age, percent of total burn surface area (% TBSA), treatment, hospitalization, comorbidities, hospital charges, mortality, ambient, and surface temperatures (pavement, asphalt, rocks). RESULTS: In the 1995 study, median ambient temperatures were 106 (range 100-113) °F compared to the 108 (range 86-119) °F highest noon temperature in the current study. No ambient temperature differences were recorded on days with pavement burn admissions compared to days without these admissions. There were 225 pavement, 27 MVC, 15 road rash, and 103 other contact burns. The major injuries in the pavement group were due to being "down" (unknown reason), falls, and barefoot. Compared to the others, the pavement group was older, 56+ years, p < 0.001, and had smaller burns but similar length of stay. Fifty percent of the 225 pavement group patients with full-thickness burns required skin grafts. There were 13 (6%) fatalities in the pavement group vs 1 (4%) in the MVC group, p = 0.01. Fatalities were secondary to sepsis, shock, cardiac, respiratory, or kidney complications. Compared to survivors, the non-survivors had a significantly higher % TBSA (10% vs 4%), p = 0.01, and lower Glasgow Coma Scores (10 vs 15), p = 0.002. CONCLUSION: There was a median 2 °F increase in ambient temperature since 1995. The increase in pavement burn admissions was multi-factorial: higher temperatures, population, and the number of older patients, with increased metropolis expansion, outreach, and urban heat indices. Pavement group was similar to the MVC group except for significantly older age and increased mortality. Morbidity associated with age contributed to increased mortality.

Effect of protected research time on ABSITE scores during general surgery residency.

BACKGROUND: Objective - To determine whether residents with one or more years of dedicated research time (Research Residents, RR) improved their ABSITE scores compared to those without (Non-Research Residents, N-RR). METHODS: A retrospective review of general surgery residents' ABSITE scores from 1995 to 2016 was performed. RR were compared to N-RR. Additional analysis of At Risk (AR) v Not At Risk residents (NAR) (35th percentile as PGY1-2) was also performed. RESULTS: Cohort - 147 residents (34 RR and 113 N-RR). There were no differences in initial ABSITE scores (p = 0.47). By definition, the AR group had lower scores than NAR. Overall, post-research RR v PGY-4 N-RR scores did not differ (p = 0.84). Only the AR residents improved their scores (p = 0.0009 v NAR p = 0.42), regardless of research group (p = 0.70). CONCLUSION: Protected research time did not improve residents' ABSITE scores, regardless of initial scores. At Risk residents improved regardless of research group status.

Haemophilus Influenzae contributes to morbidity but not mortality in severely burned patients.

Due to a successful Haemophilus Influenzae (HIF) vaccination program, this pathogen is no longer a major contributor to childhood morbidity and mortality. The effect on adult acquisition of HIF is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine HIF infection frequency in severely burned patients. In a 62-month period, there were 1486 admissions. Twenty-four of 1,486 (1.6%) burn patients had HIF pneumonia: 16 (1%) within 72 h after injury; 8 (0.5%) patients developed it after the seventh day of hospitalization; 74 of 1,486 (5.0%) burn patients had pneumonia due to other organisms. There was no statistically significant difference between patients with HIF pneumonia and those with other pathogens with respect to age, race, sex, percent total body surface area (TBSA), inhalation injury, ventilator days, intensive care days, sepsis, or mortality. Nineteen percent of patients with HIF were<14 years of age compared to 12% in the other pneumonia group, p<0.01. HIF contributed to both an early and late pneumonia in burn patients. The organism responded to treatment and did not affect mortality.

Elevated cytokine levels in peritoneal fluid from burned patients with intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Burn patients with intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) undergo vigorous resuscitation and accumulate peritoneal fluid (PF) that is a plasma ultra-filtrate. This study compared antithrombin (AT) and cytokine levels in burn patient plasma and peritoneal fluid (PF). METHODS: Twenty-nine patients were studied: 22 developed IAH and 9 progressed to ACS. Burn + inhalation injury was present in 22 patients; 5 had burn only and 2 had inhalation only. Sixteen patients died: of these, 9 survived less than 48 h due to the severity of their injuries. Flow cytometry utilized the Cytometric Bead Array kit for Human Th1/Th2 cytokines. AT levels were determined by the Accucolor method spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: All cytokine levels were significantly elevated in burn plasma and PF compared to normal plasma, p < 0.001. AT plasma levels were decreased compared to normal. AT and cytokines were present in peritoneal fluid of burn patients with IAH and ACS. Patients who died had decreased plasma levels of AT and increased IFN-gamma, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4, IL-2 peritoneal fluid levels compared to survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Peritoneal fluid may be a reservoir for cytokines during initial resuscitation and contributes to homeostatic perturbations in burn patients.

Antithrombin in the treatment of burn trauma.

Antithrombin (AT) is a natural anticoagulant with anti-inflammatory properties that has demonstrated value in sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and in burn and inhalation injury. With high doses, AT may decrease blood loss during eschar excision, reducing blood transfusion requirements. There are no human randomized, placebo-controlled studies, which have tested the true benefit of this agent in these conditions. Two main forms of AT are either plasma-derived AT (phAT) and recombinant AT (rhAT). Major ovine studies in burn and smoke inhalation injury have utilized rhAT. There have been no studies which have either translated the basic rhAT research in burn trauma, or determined the tolerance and pharmacokinetics of rhAT concentrate infusions in burn patients. Advantages of rhAT infusions are no risk of blood borne diseases and lower cost. However, the majority of human burn patient studies have been conducted utilizing phAT. Recent Japanese clinical trials have started using phAT in abdominal sepsis successfully. This review examines the properties of both phAT and rhAT, and analyzes studies in which they have been utilized. We believe that it is time to embark on a randomized placebo-controlled multi-center trial to establish the role of AT in both civilian and military patients with burn trauma.

Pediatric Frostbite Treated by Negative Pressure Wound Therapy.

Frostbite injury in children can lead to abnormal growth and premature fusion of the epiphyseal cartilage with long-term sequela including, but not limited to, arthroses, deformity, and amputation of the phalanges. This was a retrospective chart review of pediatric frostbite identified in an in-house burn center registry from March 1999 to March 2014. Therapeutic management included negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Three patients (age 16-31 months) had frostbitten hands because they were outside in cold weather without gloves. They presented within 24 hours after injury, underwent 5-6 days of NPWT after excision of blisters, and did not lose the distal portion of their digits, or require amputations. On follow-up, all hands were healed well with only minimal or no effect on the growth plate of these pediatric patients. In the early period after frostbite, NPWT may be beneficial in preserving the epiphyseal cartilage in children and preventing long-term complications.

Demographic Comparison of Burn Emergency Only Visits and Admissions in an Urban Burn Center.

There are few publications about demographics of Emergency Department (ED) burn patient visits. The purpose of this study was to compare ED only burn patients with admitted patients in an urban burn center. This was a retrospective review (1999 to 2014) of a burn unit patient registry. Patients were seen either in the Emergency Room or Trauma Bay (ED-TB) by staff, who determined whether the patient required admission or not. During this period, of the 5936 burn injury ED-TB encounters, there were 3754 (63%) admissions and 2182 (37%) ED-TB only (evaluation and discharge) visits. The median age was 30 years, and the %TBSA in the ED-TB only versus admitted patients was 1% vs 4% TBSA, P < .0001. Both groups had mainly scalding injuries in the kitchen. The majority of the ED-TB only patients presented with upper extremity burns (40%), whereas admitted patients had burns in multiple areas (49%). Most of the ED-TB only patients (73%) came to the hospital themselves, 23% were transferred from other hospitals, and 2% each, direct from the scene and clinic. In contrast, 53% of admitted patients were transferred from other hospitals, 29% came in on their own, and 11% were brought in direct from the scene, or from the burn clinic (7%), P = .0001. This review suggests that the main reason for non-admission of ED-TB only patients was the severity of injury; ED-TB only patients had a significantly less severe %TBSA (P < .0001), and fewer comorbidities compared to admitted patients.

Burn scar neoplasms: a literature review and statistical analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common burn scar neoplasm, other neoplasms have also been reported. OBJECTIVE: To compile the burn scar neoplasm cases in the literature and to analyze their frequency and demographic characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases were obtained through literature searches. RESULTS: There were 412 cases gleaned from 146 articles between 1923 and 2004. Seventy-one percent (293) of the tumors were squamous cell carcinoma, 12% (48) were basal cell carcinoma (BCC), 6% (23) were melanoma, 5% (21) were sarcoma, 4% (16) were other neoplasms, 1% (6) were squamo-basal cell carcinoma, and 1% (5) squamous cell-melanoma. The mean age at tumor diagnosis was 50 years, the mean age at the time of burn injury was 20 years, the mean latency interval was 31 years. Only 5% of the reported cases were excised and grafted at the time of injury (p<0.001). BCC occurred at a significantly later age compared to SCC and sarcoma groups (p<0.02) and had a shorter latency period compared to SCC and sarcoma groups (p<0.004) and melanoma (p<0.008). Local recurrence was present in 16% of the cases, while regional lymph node involvement was seen in 22% of the cases and distant metastases was present in 14% of the patients. The mortality rate was 21%. CONCLUSIONS: Although the main burn scar neoplasm was SCC, other neoplasms contributed to the morbidity and mortality of burn patients. Excision and grafting of deep burns, and close follow-up of non-healing ulcerated burn scars is essential for the prevention and early detection of burn scar neoplasms.

Trends in burn research as reflected in American Burn Association presentations, 1998 to 2003.

The American Burn Association (ABA) mission promotes burn care, research, rehabilitation, teaching, and prevention. Therefore, we sought to determine recent burn research trends by reviewing 1595 accepted abstracts from the Proceedings of the American Burn Association from 1998 to 2003. This study encompassed a retrospective, descriptive audit of ABA abstracts accepted for presentation, including topic, institution, accreditation status, and presentation. Overall, Shriners Hospitals for Children (SH) provided 31%, non-Shriners burn centers (N-S) provided 53%, international and nonburn center hospitals provided 13%, and multicenter ventures provided 2% of the abstracts. Abstract topics addressed most frequently in this time period were cell biology 271 (17%), general care 240 (15%), and pain 235 (15%). Multicenter trials were negligible from the period of 1998 to 2000 but increased to 3% to 4% annually since 2001. In 2003, 39 of 128 (30%) of U.S. burn centers were accredited and delivered 67% of the presentations. SH abstracts increased from 26% in 1998 to 35% in 2003, whereas the N-S decreased from 61% to 48%. Thirty-seven percent of the abstracts reported prospective studies, 28% retrospective, and basic research abstracts comprised 18%. Four SH and 91 N-S (U.S.) hospitals primarily shared the podium, although N-S presentations decreased annually since 1998. On the basis of 2003 ABA/ACS accreditation data, there was an association between accreditation and research activity. SH and N-S collaborative studies for better patient care are the trend for the future as burn centers pool data and resources.

Circulating endothelial cell levels correlate with proinflammatory cytokine increase in the acute phase of thermal injury.

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are increased in sickle cell disease, myocardial infarction, and acute lung injury. The purpose of this study was to determine whether CECs are a prognosticating marker for the development of pneumonia in burn patients with/without inhalation injury in addition to their relationship to proinflammatory cytokines. There were 24 patients: 6 with inhalation injury, 5 with burn only,and 13 with burn plus inhalation injury. CECs were measured by anchored cytometry (Clarient ChromaVision, San Juan Capistrano, CA). In addition, plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, and interleukins (IL)-10, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-2 were compared with CEC levels. Patients with inhalation injury had a significant (P < .001) paucity of CECs compared with the thermally injured with inhalation. There was a statistically significant increase in inteferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and IL-6, IL-4, and IL-2 compared with control patients (P < .01), with a concomitant increase in the number of CECs. The numbers of CEC levels did not prognosticate which patients would develop pneumonia. Burn patients with/without inhalation injury had concurrent increase in CECs and proinflammatory cytokines during the acute phase of injury.

Infections in diabetic burn patients.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic burn patients comprise a significant population in burn centers. The purpose of the study was to determine the demographic characteristics of diabetic burn patients and their rate of community-acquired and nosocomial infections. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a 46-month retrospective chart and patient registry review comparing diabetic with nondiabetic burn patients. Statistical analysis consisted of means +/- SD, descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and chi(2) tests. RESULTS: Of 1,063 adult burn patients (aged 15-54 years), 68 (6%) diabetic burns were compared with burns of 995 adult nondiabetic patients. Of 193, 62 (32%) senior (>/=55 years of age) diabetic burns were compared with 131 nondiabetic senior burns. The major mechanism of injury for the diabetic patients was scalding and contact, in contrast to that of nondiabetic patients who were injured mainly by scalding or flame burns. Adult diabetic patients had a significantly increased frequency of foot burns compared with adult nondiabetic patients (32 of 68 [68%] versus 144 of 995 [14%], P = 0.001). Adult diabetic burns had a significant increase in sepsis (P < 0.002) and community-acquired burn wound cellulitis (P < 0.001) compared with adult nondiabetic patients; and senior diabetic patients had a significantly increased frequency of urinary tract infections compared with senior nondiabetic burn patients (P < 0.04). The most common organisms in diabetic burn infections were Streptococcus, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Candida species, and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Forty-two percent of the diabetic patients were admitted during the winter months and 25% in the spring. Only 49 of 130 (38%) diabetic burn patients presented for treatment within 48 h after injury compared with 669 of 1,126 (62%) nondiabetic patients (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral neuropathy may have precipitated and delayed medical treatment in lower-extremity burns of diabetic patients. Hospitalized diabetic burn patients were also at an increased risk for nosocomial infections, which prolonged hospitalization. Diabetic patient education must include not only caution about potential burn mishaps but also educate concerning the complications from burns that may ensue.

Frequency of burn-trauma patients in an urban setting.

BACKGROUND: Burn-trauma patient encounters constitute 5% of the emergency department population. HYPOTHESIS: A large urban hospital will treat twice as many (ie, 10%) burn-trauma patients. DESIGN: Retrospective 44-month study. SETTING: Metropolitan county hospital. PATIENTS: Population-based sample of burn-only (n = 1102), burn-trauma (n = 120), and assault burn-trauma (n = 43) patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency and demographics. RESULTS: Just under 10% (n = 120) of the burn population had burn-trauma injuries. The mean +/- SD Injury Severity Score was 12 +/- 12 in these burn-trauma patients: 4 +/- 2 in outpatients and 14 +/- 13 in inpatients. The burn-only and burn-trauma groups had similar age ranges, ethnic distribution, frequency of inhalation injury, substance abuse, malnutrition, sepsis, pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, percentage total burn surface area, number of procedures, grafted areas, and mortality. Forty-three burn-trauma patients (35.8%) sustained injuries due to assault, compared with 123 (11.2%) in the burn-only group (P<.001). Burn-trauma patients who were assaulted had a mean +/- SD Injury Severity Score of 11 +/- 10. There was a significantly increased male-female ratio among the assault burn-trauma patients (6:1) compared with the burn-trauma (3:1) and burn-only (2.3:1) groups (P<.04). Most of these injuries were caused by an unknown assailant, in connection with an automobile, a motorcycle, a bicycle, or pedestrians intentionally struck by moving vehicles, or by child abuse. The main mechanism of injury was contact in 57 burn-trauma patients (47.5%), compared with 127 (11.5%) in the burn-only group (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: A large urban population will have an increased frequency (2-fold in our center) of burn-trauma injuries. Assault and child abuse are significant contributory factors to burn-trauma injuries in this population.

Antithrombin (human) concentrate infusion in pediatric patients with >50% TBSA burns.

BACKGROUND: Antithrombin (human) [AT(H)] concentrate infusions have been safely utilized in adult burn patients to counteract subclinical disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and pulmonary complications. OBJECTIVE: AT(H) concentrate was given to two thermally injured pediatric patients to evaluate safety and dosage requirements. DESIGN: The first patient was a 2-year-old with 83% total burn surface area (TBSA) full thickness flame burn and severe inhalation injury. The second patient was a 14-month-old who sustained 56% TBSA deep partial and full thickness scald injury. Each child received 10 infusions of AT(H) concentrate (106 units/kg) in the first 4 days post-injury. RESULT: For these two patients, the plasma AT level (normal range: 100+/-20%) increased, respectively, from 25 and 66% on admission to 224 and 217% on day 1, 114 and 116% on day 2, and 193 and 171% on day 3. Both patients tolerated the infusions well. In one patient, the eschar on all four extremities easily peeled off the subcutaneous tissues along a natural demarcation between viable and non-viable tissue with only a 40cc estimated blood loss (EBL). CONCLUSIONS: AT(H) concentrate is tolerated in the pediatric population in the acute phase of injury. Lack of bleeding during eschar removal may be of benefit to burn excision and grafting.

Vacuum-assisted closure use in calciphylaxis.

Calciphylaxis-induced chronic wounds are difficult to heal. The value of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) was assessed in two patients with calciphylaxis. Two middle-aged females with type 2 diabetes were transferred to the burn unit with a clinical diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis, although the pathologic diagnosis was calciphylaxis. With extensive debridement, antibiotics, and meticulous wound care, one patient had progressive necrosis of her skin from 18 to 48% TBSA, whereas the other progressed from 5 to 10% TBSA only. The patient with the smaller chronic wound healed well and left the hospital at 72 days after admission. Although there was some success with the use of VAC, the patient with the extensive progressive wounds developed a fungal wound infection that did not respond to treatment; she died 78 days after initiation of burn center treatment. Some disadvantages to the usefulness would be extensive contiguous wounds and the lack of an intact skin surface. The VAC system was of value in healing wounds resulting from calciphylaxis.