Degree Of Burn Research Articles

Assessment of urinary interleukin-18 in the early post-burn period to predict acute kidney injury of various degrees of burn patients

Background: Early detection of acute kidney injury (AKI) in burn-injured patients can help modify the treatment to prevent progression of acute renal failure and reduce the need for renal replacement therapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate urinary interleukin-18 in the early post-burn period to predict the AKI for the various degrees of burn patients.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the department of nephrology, Dhaka medical college in collaboration with burn and plastic surgery unit of the same medical college hospital, from July 2017 to June 2018 for a period of one year. The 48 burn patients (Age>18 years) who attended in the burn unit of Dhaka medical college, Dhaka of both sexes were enrolled in this study. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 22.0. A value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant for all tests.Results: In this study, mean age of the burn patients was 32.41±10.59 years. Male female ratio was 3.36:1. Urinary IL-18 in diagnosis of AKI showed accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 93.8%, 91.7%, 94.4%, 84.6% and 97.1% respectively. AUC for urinary IL-18 at admission was 0.968 (CI, 0.921-1.000) and AUC for serum creatinine at admission was 0.937 (CI, 0.871-1.000). Conclusions: According to Kappa value, AUC and sensitivity and specificity urinary IL-18 is a good biomarker in predicting of early AKI in burn patients.

Prediction and test of stable transmission time of spiral bevel gear during a loss-of-lubrication event in helicopter transmission system

PurposeThis paper aims to establish a prediction model of stable transmission time of spiral bevel gear during a loss-of-lubrication event in helicopter transmission system.Design/methodology/approachTo observe the temperature change of spiral bevel gear during working condition, a test rig of spiral bevel gear was developed according to the requirements of experiments and carried out verification experiments.FindingsThe prediction is verified by the test of detecting the temperature of oil pool. The main damage form of helicopter spiral bevel gears under starved lubrication is tooth surface burn. The stable running time under oil-free lubrication is mainly determined by the degree of tooth surface burn control.Originality/valueThe experimental data of the spiral bevel gear oil-free lubrication process are basically consistent with the simulation prediction results. The results lay a foundation for the working life design of spiral bevel gear in helicopter transmission system under starved lubrication.

The effect of inter-fire interval and fire severity on seedling germination and resprouting in

Context Regeneration from seed and resprouting are life-history strategies used by plants in fire-prone landscapes; however, for some species there is a limited understanding of how different factors influence post-fire response within populations. Aims We studied the effect of inter-fire interval and degree of tree burn on post-fire seedling germination and basal resprouting in Allocasuarina verticillata within two conservation parks on Kangaroo Island. Methods We undertook seedling counts using 1 m2 quadrats. Burnt trees were assessed for signs of resprouting. Key results Seedling density 8–9 months post-fire was primarily influenced by interfire interval, and was higher in stands with an inter-fire interval time of 37–45 years (143 per m2) compared to those with an interval of >60 years (48 per m2). Resprouting in burnt A. verticillata trees was influenced by the degree of tree burn, but also varied considerably between the two parks. Conclusions Our study confirmed that A. verticillata is a facultative seeder/resprouter that can regenerate from both seedling germination and resprouting post-fire. However, the two strategies are influenced by different factors, and resprouting rates in A. verticillata can be very low in some circumstances. Implications Because A. verticillata relies primarily on seedling germination for population persistence post-fire, it may be vulnerable to drastic changes in fire frequency. Further research is required on the minimum inter-fire interval for persistence of this species within a landscape.

Knowledge level on the management of pediatric burn patients among physicians working in the emergency department.

Prognosis of burned child is heavily influenced by how they are treated in the first 24 h. This study aimed to assess the degree of knowledge of emergency department physicians about the pediatric burn patients. The study included 229 physicians (80 emergency medicine specialists, 84 pediatricians, and 65 general practitioners). The questions were organized into six categories, each based on the Turkish Ministry of Health's Burn Treatment Algorithm, American Burn Association criteria, and current literature: 1 - Etiology and Degree of Burn, 2 - Emergency Medical Intervention, 3 - Calculation of Burn Area and Fluid-electrolyte Treatment, 4 - Indications for Hospitalization in Burn Treatment Units, 5 - Judicial and Medical Liability, and 6 - Training Sufficiency and Demand for Burn Injury Training. Questionnaire form was sent to the participants through the WhatsApp application. The outcomes were rated as 75-100% good, 50%-75% moderate, and <50% poor. The overall knowledge level of physicians about pediatric burns was moderate, with a score of 57.65±10.13 (emergency medicine specialists: 60.11, pediatricians: 57.56, and general practitioners: 54.75). Emergency medical intervention scores (35.02±22.43) and burn treatment units and hospitalization indications scores (38.6±18.96) were both low. Despite having a statistically significant higher medical intervention score than the pediatricians and general practitioners, the knowledge level of the emergency medicine specialists was poor. As result, physicians practicing in the emergency department have a poor knowledge level about pediatric burns. Hence, pediatric burn education should be provided to all emergency department physicians.

Burn reconstruction

Burn injuries are severe traumatic events with a range of local and systemic repercussions. Various complications may occur in the early and late stages of burn injuries depending on the causative agent, duration of contact, degree of burn, and extent of the harm. Long after their burn scars have healed, many patients still struggle with issues related to their burn injuries. Burn scars, hypertrophic scars, keloid, contractures, heterotopic ossifications, chronic ulcerations, and marginal ulcers are late-onset complications that hurt the quality of life and result in lost productivity. Escharotomy, fasciotomy, repeated debridement, and primary wound management can lower mortality and potential complications. Complex burns should ideally be treated in specialized burn centers supervised by plastic surgeons and a multidisciplinary team of experts who treat patients holistically. This case report presents a contracture that occurred following an extensive burn to the neck, arm, and finger joints, which was successfully treated with surgery and healed without complications.

Clinical Profile of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms at Burn Center Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya from June 2020 to June 2021

Background: Burns are an ideal environment for primary wound infection to occur. Burn infection can lead to the acquisition of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDRO) with certain risk factors, such as the cause, degree and total body surface area (TBSA) of burns, length of stay, and invasive procedures performed. This study aims to determine the clinical profile of burn patients who experience MDRO. Method: Data was taken using medical records at the Burn Center Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya during June 2020 – June 2021 with a descriptive study and a cross sectional approach. Result: A total of 67 burn patients were included in this study. Sixteen patients were found to have burns with MDRO, and 51 other patients only had burns without MDRO which was excluded in this study. Patient in this study were dominated by men with a total of 11 patients (68.8%), most patient were in the 19–45-year age group of 8 patients (50%) with an average of 35 ± 20.58 years, and length of stay &gt;14 days in 11 patients (68.8%) with an average 32,75 ± 38.31 days. All patients had invasive procedures performed. Fire was the most common cause of burns, namely in 9 patients (56.3%). Severe burns occurred in 16 patients (100%) of the MDRO burns studied. Eleven patients (68.8%) had TBSA &gt; 30% with an average of 37.06% ± 18.59%. Acinetobacter baumannii was the most MDR bacteria cultured in this study with 15 cultures (32.6%). It is followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa with 9 cultures (19.6%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae with 4 cultures (8.7%). A. baumannii is most commonly found in blood cultures, followed by cultures of phlegm and wounds. This is in contrast to P. aeruginosa with the most findings in wound cultures, followed by cultures of sputum and blood. Conclusion: Our study shows that MDRO infection is still a matter of concern in burns. Even so, the number of samples should be increased to see the significance and the relationship between variables in future burn studies.

Noninvasive Quantitative Assessment of Burn Degree Based on Spatial Frequency-Domain Imaging

Noninvasive Quantitative Assessment of Burn Degree Based on Spatial Frequency-Domain Imaging

Methodological approaches to the application of burns classifications in determining the severity of injuries in Ukraine

The article considers the existing classifications of thermal burns by the depth of the lesion. The analysis and comparison of different classifications among themselves is carried out. The problems that may arise in forensic medical practice in determining the severity of thermal burns, which are associated with the use of different classifications, are demonstrated. The use of different classifications of burns according to the depth of the lesion can lead to incorrect determination of the severity of injuries when compiling the "Expert Conclusion". Methodological approaches that will avoid this are presented.&#x0D; The aim of the work. Elaboration of methodological approaches to the use of modern classifications of burns, which are introduced in Ukraine and in other countries, during forensic medical examinations of thermal injuries.&#x0D; Materials and methods. Analysis, synthesis, comparison and analogy of printed and electronic legal documents of Ukraine, domestic and foreign forensic and medical literature on burn injury.&#x0D; Results. Analysis and comparison of different modifications of burns classification by depth of injury revealed that modern classifications by combinations of numbers and letters differ from the classification of burns by depth, which is used in forensic practice in Ukraine in determining the severity of thermal injuries. The forensic expert during the examination in cases of thermal injury examines the medical records that contain information about the treatment of the victim. Victims can be treated in various medical institutions both in Ukraine and abroad. Thus, different classifications are used in the formulation of the diagnosis, which can lead to incorrect determination of the severity of the injury caused by high temperature. The result is a biased "Expert Conclusion", which may later be considered inadequate evidence in criminal proceedings. To prevent erroneous assessment of the degree of burns, the expert must find out what classification of burns is used in making a clinical diagnosis, and interpret the specified degree of burns in accordance with the gradation of burns, which regulates the activities of forensic experts.&#x0D; Conclusion. At present, the «Rules of forensic determination of the severity of injuries», which were approved in Ukraine in 1995, don't provide adequate methodological support for forensic expert research, which should correspond to the current level of development of medical science and clinical practice. The introduction of the achievements of world medicine into the domestic forensic medical practice should be facilitated by modern legal documents regulating the activities of forensic medical institutions of Ukraine.

MICROBIOLOGICAL ASPECT OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL INFECTION IN SEVERE DEGREE OF BURNS

Introduction: Burns serve as one of the most common devastating forms of trauma. Significant thermal injuries induce skin disruption and immunosupression that predispose patients to infectious complication. The importance of sampling, detection, and proper treatment for wound infections will significantly increase the likelihood of clinical improvement of the patients. Case: A 44-years-old male came to hospital due to electrical shock. There were serious burns to his face, chest, arms, and legs, some of which were second- and third-degree burns. The patient was conscious, without problems on airway and breathing. Leukocytosis with neutrophilia was presented from laboratory examination, with an increase in liver enzymes and serum creatinine. The gram-positive cocci with leucocytes were revealed from gram examination, and colonization of Staphylococcus aureus was found. Intravenous cefazolin was administered according to the sensitivity test. Discussion: Infection causes the increase in morbidity and mortality of burn patients. Clinical diagnosis of infection must be supported microbiologically by gram examination and culture. One of the most common infectious agents in severe burns is Staphylococcus aureus. The significance of S.aureus as the leading cause of infection must be supported by microbiological data. Dominant growth in culture media and induction of host inflammatory response were indicated as significance of infection. Conclusion: Clinical and microbiological diagnosis of burns infection play important role to prevent complications in severe degree of burns.

Effect of Growth Hormone on Outcome of Pediatric Burn Patients

Abstract Background A burn is a thermal injury caused by biological, chemical, electrical and physical agents with local and systemic repercussions. There are several ways of classifying burns: Classification by mechanism or cause, Classification by the degree and depth of a burn, Classification by extent of burn the extent of burn. Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of using recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in the treatment of pediatric burn victims and their ICU length of stay, mortality and morbidity. Patients and Methods This study was an Interventional randomized controlled Double Blind Study in which Patients subdivided randomly into 2 groups: Group A received somatotropine hormone after their 3 days of resuscitation besides their conventional treatment during their stay in the Burn ICU. Group B received the conventional treatment only in the Burn ICU. Results The comparison between the GH group and the control group showed that the mean ICU stay in days in GH group was 10.88 while in the control group 13.59 with P value 0.018 as a significant result as the GH group showed a less ICU stay time than the control group with approximately 20%. Mortality in the GH group was 6.2% from the total number of the group while in control group 18.8% from the total number of the group with P value 0.033 as a significant result yet the mortality may also depend on other factors as the degree of burn and the area of burn and the associated events like inhalational injury or delay post burn or any other co-morbidity. Morbidity results seen was 0% in control group and 4.7% in GH group with P value 0.080 as a non-significant result, morbidity was in the form of hyperglycemia. Conclusion The use of recombinant Growth hormone with a dose of 0.2 mg/Kg SQ 2 days per week with 3 days time interval in pediatric burn patients after their primary resuscitation from the burn injury, shows a marvelous improvement concerning the ICU stay time as the patient received the growth hormone showed an approximately 20% time less ICU stay than the control group this may be accounted for the faster wound healing and readiness for grafting and even faster graft healing, also a decreased mortality in a significant way, although mortality may depend on many factors in burn patients like degree of burn and the area of burn and the associated events like inhalational injury or any other co-morbidity.

Characterization of severely burned patients and evaluation of factors associated to mortality. An observational retrospective cohort study in San Vicente Fundación Hospital

Introduction Burns are common in developing countries and place a large burden on the medical and social care systems. However, information about management and outcomes from such countries is scarce. The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiology and main factors related to the mortality in severely burned patients at the Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación in Medellín, Colombia. Methods An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted. To establish prognostic factors associated with mortality, we analyzed variables such as age, sex, burned surface, and degree of burn, among others. Demographic, clinic, and management features as well as complications and factors associated with mortality were analyzed using logistic regression. Results 4516 clinical histories were reviewed, 225 were included in the study. 76.9% were men, with a median age of 35 years; 64.9% were fire burns. The median burned body surface area was 42%. There were inhalation injuries in 135 patients and ocular in 106 patients. The main complication was infection followed by rhabdomyolysis. The overall hospital stay was 27 days, and the median length of stay at the intensive care unit was 7 days with in-hospital mortality of 30.7%. The variables associated with mortality were age, burned body surface area, degree of burn, and kidney injury. Surgical intervention was protective. Conclusions Severely burned patients in our hospital have similar outcomes and, in some cases, better outcomes than those reported in the literature in countries with similar characteristics, and we have seen that in the last years, there has been a better experience in the management of these patients. Elderly, extension, and depth of burnt tissue are markers of poor outcomes. Early surgery and intubation have shown better outcomes, probably due to infection control and removal of necrotic tissue, airway management, and ventilatory support for metabolic and hemodynamic derangement.

Impact of Psychological Rehabilitation on Healing of Burn Patients

Abstract Background: Psycological distress among people who have sustained burns is common. The time taken for burn wounds to heal can not be fully explained by physical factors such as burn type, wound size and depth only. Clinicians should not ignore the importance of psycological influences on the wound healing process and also give consideration to the potential for psycological rehabilitation to lessen patient's distress and improve wound healing outcomes. Aim of Study: The aim is assessment of psychiatric status of burn patients during hospitalization, determination of psycological intervention methods and observation of impact of psycological rehabilitation on healing of burn patients. Patients and Methods: The present non-randomized, prospective, cohort study was conducted on 40 patients with partial or full-thickness burns that attended Burn Unit of Plastic Surgery Department, Menoufia University Hospital between January and December 2019. Approval of the ethical committee and written informed consent from all participants was obtained. Results: In the present study, in the pre-intervention period, we found that 35% of the patients had mild-to-moderate anxiety and most of the patients had scaled burn (55%) and the mean burn surface area was 18.45±8.51%. The majority of the patients had mixed burn degree (57.5%). Conclusion: Psychological interventions appear to effec-tively reduce burn patient psychological morbidities. We demonstrated that psychological interventions significantly reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, and hospital stay compared to usual care. These findings are very important as it confirms the promising role of psychological interventions in burn patients. Nevertheless, further studies with rigorous design, large sample size and multiregional cooperation are required.

Severe burn injury from the common Asian practice of heat application in patients with diabetic neuropathy.

This was the first study to analyse patients who sustained severe self‐induced burns from this common Asian practice. There is a need to raise public awareness and physician attention about the consequences of preventable burn injuries and the importance of first aid in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Retrospective data on 16 consecutive patients who had diabetes and neuropathy admitted to the plastic surgery ward at the Tri‐Service General Hospital from January 1, 2015, to February 2, 2021 with burn injuries because of heat applications were collected and analysed for this study. Age, gender, season, first aid adequacy, comorbidity, interventions, total body surface area (TBSA), degree of burn, aetiology, length of stay (LOS), and status at discharge were reviewed. The mean age of the 16 patients was 65.13 years. The most common burn aetiology was contact (50%), followed by scald (37.5%) and radiation burns (12.5%). TBSA burn averaged ± standard deviation 1.54 ± 1.22. Seven patients (44%) had wound infections, and three patients underwent amputations. The average LOS was 28.2 days. Asian practice of heat application is the common aetiology of severe and preventable burn injuries. Education about neuropathy and the consequences of a burn injury should be provided to patients with diabetes.

Predictors of short-term outcomes of burn in a newly established burn centre in Iran.

AimThis study aimed to determine the predictors of hospital stay and mortality in patients with burns.DesignThis is a cross‐sectional, retrospective study.MethodsThis study was performed on 626 medical records in Velayat Subspecialty Burn and Plastic Surgery Center in Rasht, Iran, during 2008–2013.ResultsMen comprised 78.4% of the study population. Overall, 50.2% of the participants lived in rural areas, and 72.5% were married. The majority of burns occurred at home (49.5%), and thermal factor (87.4%) was the major cause of burn injuries. Also, 6.9% of the patients died after burns. The mean length of hospital stay was 12.62 ± 13 days. Age (OR = 1.07), total body surface area (TBSA%) (OR = 1.12) and length of ICU stay (OR = 1.06) were the strongest predictors of mortality. Gender (IRR = 0.85), TBSA% (IRR = 1.01), location of burn (IRR = 1.1), skin graft (IRR = 2.12), length of ICU stay (IRR = 1.04), re‐hospitalization (IRR = 1.77) and burn degree (IRR = 1.09) were the predictors of the length of hospital stay.ConclusionBSA is still an important predictor of mortality and length of hospital stay, as the most important short‐term outcomes of burns.

FOREIGN BODY IN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT (ESOPHAGUS) CASE STUDY

The majority of foreign body ingestions occur in children between the ages of six months and three years. Most cases are brought to medical attention by a child's caregivers following a witnessed or reported ingestion. Many of the children are asymptomatic or have transient symptoms at the time of the ingestion. Clinical management focuses on identifying and treating the cases at risk for complications, which depend on the location and type of foreign body. A battery lodged in the esophagus should be removed urgently. There was not recommended to take anything orally when swallowing a battery according to these guidelines until the body has been radiographically determined and removed endoscopically. Recent studies using natural and artificial models of batteries in the esophagus of animals have shown that early and repeated administration of honey or sucralfate before removal may reduce the degree of esophageal burns.

EFFECT OF THE ENZYME-CONTAINING POLYMERIC NANOPARTICLES ON MMP-2 ACTIVITY DURING BURN WOUND HEALING IN RATS WITH STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETES

Relevance. Diabetic foot syndrome is a common complication that is characterized by the development of chronic ulcers. Among the mechanisms of impaired wound healing, the leading role is played by disturbance of extracellular matrix homeostasis: chronic hyperglycemia, on the one hand, promotes the formation of so-called advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which mediate pro-inflammatory activation of immune cells, and on the other hand, inhibits fibroblasts proliferation and collagen production, disrupts the migration of keratinocytes and endothelial cells. Therefore, the elimination of AGEs is a pathogenetic approach in diabetic wound treatment. For this purpose, a composite consisting of polyspecific microbial proteinases fixed on polymeric porous nanoparticles was developed. The activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) was chosen as a prognostic indicator of chronic wound healing.&#x0D; Objective: to study the activity of MMP-2 in the tissues of the burn wound of rats with simulated diabetes mellitus under the influence of enzyme-containing nanoparticles.&#x0D; Materials and methods. N = 48 Wistar rats were used in the experiment. Diabetes mellitus was induced by administration of 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin. To model the wound in rats, a standard animal model of thermal burns by Walker and Mason was used. Thermal damage corresponded to the II-IIIA degree of burns, and occupied 19±1.6% of the total area of ​​animal skin. Rats were divided into two groups of 24 animals each: the DM group did not receive any treatment, and rats from the DM+T group were daily applied to the burn wound with the mentioned composite (enzyme-containing nanoparticles). Animals were removed from the experiment on days 3, 7, 14 and 21 of observation. The activity of MMP-2 in the tissues of the burn wound of diabetic rats was studied by gelatin zymography, expressed in arbitrary units (AU). Statistical data processing was performed in the software package SPSS Statistics Base, v.22 with Student and Scheffe tests.&#x0D; Results. The level of activity of MMP-2 in the tissues of the burn wound of rats in the DM group on the 3rd day of the study was 4.9 ± 1.3 AU, increased by 7 days (p &lt;0.01) and reached a maximum level of 52.55 ± 3.06 AU at day 14 (p &lt;0.01). On day 21, the activity of the test enzyme decreased by 8.5 AU (p &lt;0.01), compared to day 14.&#x0D; On day 3 of the study in the DM+T group, the activity of MMP-2 in the diabetic wound was 15.93 ± 2.68 AU and gradually decreased (p &lt;0.01) to 5.67 ± 2.67 AU on day 14. However, on day 21, the second peak (p &lt;0.01) of the activity of the studied enzyme was observed - 33.64 ± 4.1 AU.&#x0D; When comparing the two groups (DmM and DM+T) on day 3 of the study, the activity of MMP-2 in the tissues of the burn wound of rats in the DM+T group was three times higher (p &lt;0.01) than in the DM group. But from the 7th day the activity of MMP-2 in the DM group was higher than the DM+T group. On day 21 of the study, the level of MMP-2 in the DM group remained higher (p &lt;0.01) than in the DM+T group.&#x0D; Conclusions. The use of enzyme-containing nanoparticles provides effective degradation of glycosylated components of the extracellular matrix (AGEs), thereby reducing the inflammatory process and activity of MMP-2, and promoting wound healing in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Respiratory Characteristics in Patients With Major Burn Injury and Smoke Inhalation.

This study aimed to evaluate pulmonary function measurements and respiratory muscle parameters in patients with major burn injury and smoke inhalation. The inclusion criteria included patients who were diagnosed with a smoke inhalation burn or a major burn of more than 20% of total body surface area (TBSA). All subjects underwent a pulmonary function test, respiratory muscle strength test, peak cough flow and fluoroscopic diaphragmatic movement measurement, and 6-minute walk test before starting pulmonary rehabilitation. Evaluations were conducted on the 88th day after the injury, the average time of admission to the Department of the Rehabilitation Medicine for burn rehabilitation after the completion of the acute treatment. The average degree of burns of the total 67 patients was 34.6% TBSA. All parameters in the patient group were significantly lower than the healthy controls, and a mild restrictive pattern of impairment with a reduction in diffusing capacity and more reduced expiratory muscle, than inspiratory muscle strength were observed. Peak cough flow, respiratory muscle strength, and forced vital capacity in the patient group with inhalation burn were significantly lower than in those without inhalation burn. The conditions of the majority of patients with major burn and inhalation injury were consistent with restrictive impairment and significant reduction in diffusion capacity. The patients had expiratory muscle weakness, decreased diaphragmatic movement, and exercise capacity impairment.

English

BACKGROUND The skin is the largest organ of our body with a complex function. Burn injuries result in damage to the skin by electrical, chemical, thermal or radiation energies or a combination of them, by far the most common being the thermal injuries. However, most burn injuries are preventable and hence need preventive strategies. Outcome is dependent on various factors. The focus of this study is to provide an overview of various factors and clinical presentation of burn injury and their correlation of these various factors with outcome of burn injury. METHODS A retrospective facility-based document review analytical study was conducted on 215 patients admitted in the emergency (burn ward) department of Government Medical College and Hospital, Srinagar, Kashmir from September 2019 to September 2020. RESULTS In our study, out of total 215 hospitalized burn patients, 101 (47 %) were female and 114 (53 %) were males. In 103 (47.9 %) patients, burn injury was caused by scald burn, kangri burn was present in 3 (1.4 %) patients; 207 (96.3 %) patients had accidental burns and 8 (3.7 %) patients had suicidal burn injuries; 181 (84.2 %) had received good pre-hospital intervention; 165 (76.7 %) patients were discharged without complications. Various parameters – degree of burn, cause of burn, nature of burn, nutritional status and antibiotic coverage show statistical significance with P-value &lt; 0.05. CONCLUSIONS Kashmir is a valley surrounded by mountains, has cold weather for about threequarters of year. People here are more prone to burn injuries especially thermal injuries. Outcome of burn injuries is better for lesser degree of burns and mortality increases with severe degree of burns. Patients without complications, patients with good nutritional status at presentation and patients with proper antibiotic coverage had good outcome. KEYWORDS Burn Injury, Kangri, Outcome of Burn

Theoretical analysis on thermal treatment of skin with repetitive pulses

Thermal ablation is an efficient method of medical treatment, such as cancer therapy, wound closure, laser cutting, freckle removal and other treatments. In order to guarantee the curative effect and the safety of the patients, the thermal response of the tissue which is subjected to the heat source need to be carefully monitored. However, it is too difficult to achieve real-time monitoring on the full-field temperature. In the present study, efforts were made to build up a theoretical model for the prediction of the thermal response in the human skin. The Dual-Phase-Lag (DPL) bio-heat transfer model and the Henrique’s burn assessment model were employed to describe the interaction of multi-pulse heat source and the skin. The repeated multi-pulse laser is a common heat source in the thermal treatment and the thermal responses of the skin would be complicated under the common effects of the non-Fourier effects and the multi-pulse source. The Green’s function approach was used to solve the governing equations analytically. The closed-form solution for the temperature distribution of the skin was obtained and the thermal damage was estimated based on the temperature results. The influences of the biological parameters (the phase lags of the heat flux and the temperature gradient) and the heat source parameters (the pulse number and the duty ratio) on the temperature distribution, the burn degree and the irreversible burn depth of the irradiated region were discussed.

Effect of Self Care Education on Quality of Life and Body Image among Burned Patients

Abstract: Burns have a negative effect on quality of life of patients and can impair their physiological, psychological, social and spiritual well-being. Aim of the study: to evaluate the effect of self-care education on quality of life and body image among burned patients. Research design: Quasi-experimental design. Setting: The study was conducted in burn department and outpatient's burn clinic, at Assiut Burn Center, Assiut city. Sample: Sixty male and female adult patients their age (18-65) years, diagnosed with first, second and third degree of burn. Percentage of burn from 18 - 45%. Tools: three tools used in this study: Patient assessment sheet, it included (personal and medical data), Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B), and self-care education booklet. Results: Less than half of sample was in the age group of 36-55 years with mean 42.08 ± 13. 415 yrs. There was a highly significant statistical difference for patients’ quality of life and body image before and after self-care education. Conclusion: Self-care education was effective on improving quality of life and body image among burned patients. Recommendations: Teaching booklet for burned patients to improve quality of life should be available in burn departments.