Mechanism Of Burn Injury Research Articles

Burn Injuries in the Pediatric Population - The Experience of a Single Center Over a Period of Two Years.

Introduction: The study investigated the therapeutic approach and clinical management of pediatric burn patients admitted to the Pediatric Surgery and Orthopedics Clinic of the County Emergency Hospital Craiova over a two-year period (2017-2018). The primary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatments applied, including grafting procedures and their impact on long-term prognosis. Material and Methods: The cases of 80 children with burns of varying severity were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were classified according to the severity and the mechanism of burn injury. The collected data were processed using Microsoft Excel 2021. Patients were classified into three categories based on the affected body surface area (BSA): Category 1 patients, with a BSA â?¤ 10%, showed very good results and required less intensive care. Category 2 patients, with a BSA between 10% and 50%, had good outcomes but needed more prolonged care. Category 3 patients, with a BSA 50%, had satisfactory results but faced more challenges in recovery, highlighting the need for enhanced prevention measures and better treatment protocols. Results: The majority of patients came from rural areas, and thermal burns were the most common. The effectiveness and safety of the treatments applied were highlighted, with a generally favorable impact on long-term prognosis. Treatment included both surgical and non-surgical approaches, with generally favorable clinical outcomes. Conclusion: The study highlights significant differences between rural and urban environments, suggesting the need for prevention and education campaigns regarding pediatric burns and improved access to medical services. It also emphasizes the need for integrated management to reduce the severity and complications associated with burns. The results provide a solid foundation for future strategies aimed at improving the care of pediatric burn patients.

736 Burn Injuries During the Pandemic: Older Patients, Delays to Admission, and Longer Hospital Stays

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on school closures, workforce/employment status, and the enactment of stay-at-home orders may have resulted in changes in the incidence, mechanisms, and time to presentation for treatment of burn injuries. Given the need for prompt treatment of burn injuries to prevent worsening of the injury, infection, and/or critical illness, potential delays in burn treatment during the pandemic may have resulted in poorer patient outcomes. We hypothesize that burn patients demonstrated delays to presentation, changes in burn injury mechanisms, and increased mortality intra-pandemic compared to pre-pandemic. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of records from the burn registry of a tertiary urban burn center. Persons aged 0 to 99 presenting with a burn between March 2019 and March 2021 were included for evaluation (n=1524). Demographics, time to presentation, and admission type were compared for persons presenting pre-pandemic (March 11, 2019-March 10, 2020) to intra-pandemic cases (March 11, 2020-March 10, 2021). TBSA, length of stay, mechanism of injury, and final disposition were compared for inpatients presenting pre- to intra-pandemic. Chi-squared and Student’s t-test analyses were conducted for comparisons between the pre- and intra-pandemic groups; statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. Results Pre-pandemic, 777 persons presented to the burn center with 239 (30.8%) admitted; intra-pandemic, 747 persons presented with 260 (34.8%) admitted. Presenting patient mean age pre-pandemic was significantly lower than intra-pandemic (41 vs. 44 years, p=0.001), as well as mean time to admission (1.41 vs 2.46 days, p=0.04). There was no statistically significant difference in patient gender, race, ethnicity, or admission type pre- vs. intra-pandemic. For inpatient admissions (n=499), there was a significant increase in length of stay pre- vs. intra-pandemic (8.31 vs. 11.26 days, p=0.042); no significant changes in TBSA, mechanisms of burn injury, or disposition were found. Conclusions Our results indicate that patients who presented intra-pandemic were significantly older and had greater injury-to-presentation times than those who presented pre-pandemic. The pandemic did not seem to have a significant effect on burn TBSA, mechanisms of injury, or disposition. These results may have important implications for the role of telehealth in burn care and public health programs for burn prevention and treatment during times of stress on the healthcare system. Applicability of Research to Practice Analysis of pre- and intra-pandemic burn injuries enables explorations of how pandemics impact both the ability of patients to seek treatment and the impact of delays in seeking treatment. Such analysis lends itself well to exploring the vital role of public health advocacy, use of telehealth, and burn prevention campaigns during crises.

Characteristics of patients resuscitated after burn related out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

AimThis study’s objective was to describe the characteristics of burn injury patients who were resuscitated after burn related out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). MethodWe conducted a retrospective cohort study and examined characteristics of burn related OHCA using data from a Japanese nationwide burn registry that was collected between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2020. First, we compared the characteristics of burn patients with and without OHCA. Second, among burn patients with OHCA, we compared the characteristics of survivors with non-survivors. ResultsIn the database, there were 16,995 hospitalised burn patients and 256 burn related OHCA. Thirty-two of the 256 burn patients (13%) survived after admission. Among patients with burns who also had OHCA, flames were the most common injury mechanism (74%); in comparison to all other injury mechanisms, the rate of flame burn was significantly higher in burn patients with OHCA than in burn patients without OHCA. The most common cause of death for burn related OHCA is carbon-monoxide poisoning (46%). Compared with survivors, non-survivors had a larger burn area, greater age and more complications. such as inhalation injuries and perineal burn injuries. Compared to other mechanisms of burn injury, electrical burn injuries were more common among survivors. In twelve patients with electrical burns, eight patients survived (67%) OHCA; of those eight patients, six (50%) could be discharged home. ConclusionPatients with burn related OHCA have a poor prognosis; however, patients who sustain electrical shock injuries may do better.

The use of carbon dioxide and intense pulsed light laser for the treatment of hypertrophic burn scars: A case series.

Hypertrophic scarring is a common and debilitating consequence of burn scars. While there is limited evidence for current treatment options, laser therapy has been shown to be effective, low risk and minimally invasive. This study assesses the use of carbon dioxide lasers and intense pulsed light devices in the treatment of hypertrophic burn scars. In this case series, patients were recruited from a hypertrophic burn scar waitlist and completed a Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale prior to and six weeks after laser therapy. The Nordlys (intense pulsed light) and CO2RE (carbon dioxide) systems from Candela Medical were used, with a range of settings used depending on the assessment of the burn scar. The differences between scores were calculated for the total Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale score, pain, itch, colour, stiffness, thickness, irregularity and the overall opinion of the scar. Statistical analysis was completed using a paired, two-tailed student T test. A total of 31 patients were recruited for this trial with a range of scar locations, surface areas and mechanism of burn injury. The calculated difference in mean showed a significant reduction for the overall Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale score (1.93, p < 0.0001), pain (1.39, p = 0.0002), itch (1.84, p = 0.0002), colour (1.97, p < 0.0001), stiffness (2.47, p < 0.0001), thickness (2.1, p < 0.0001), irregularity (1.89, p < 0.0001) and overall opinion (1.58, p = 0.0003). Current management options for hypertrophic scarring have limited evidence. Laser therapy presents a minimally invasive procedure that can be completed under topical anaesthetic and has shown to be effective following a single treatment of combined carbon dioxide laser and intense pulsed light device therapy. Many people will suffer a burn injury throughout their life and up to almost 3 out of 4 people with burn injuries will suffer from hypertrophic scars (a thickened, red and itchy scar). These scars cause distress both due to their appearance and their reduction of function, particularly over a joint or muscle. Laser therapy, in which different wave lengths of light (pulsed light) or gas (carbon dioxide) target the scar, has been found to be effective and have minimal side effects in the management of hypertrophic scars. While individual lasers have been assessed and found to be effective and low risk, the combined use of multiple lasers on the same scar has not been extensively studied. We studied the effectiveness of both light and gas laser therapies on hypertrophic scars. Patients with hypertrophic scars completed a questionnaire that focused on their perspective of their scar (pain, itch, stiffness, thickness, irregularity, overall opinion) prior to the treatment. The patients then underwent laser therapy (with local anaesthetic gel) with either pulsed light and/or carbon dioxide (gas) laser. The type of laser used was decided by the clinician performing the therapy depending on scar location and thickness. Patients then re-completed the subjective survey six weeks following the laser therapy, and the results compared. We learnt that laser therapy (both light, gas and a combination of both) are effective (and low risk) in reducing the subjective burden of the scar for the patient.

Sociodemographic factors and living conditions of pediatric burn patients

Background Children are the age group most vulnerable to burn injuries. Socioeconomic factors and the living environment, including the poor living conditions faced by refugees, may contribute to the occurrence of burns.&#x0D; Objectives To compare living conditions and socioeconomic status potentially contributing to burn injury, characteristics, access to medical treatment, and integrated preventive measures between children of Turkish families and Syrian refugees with burn injuries.&#x0D; Methods In this cross-sectional study, we recorded demographic and epidemiological features, mechanism of burn injury, as well as living- and socioeconomic conditions from interviews with parents of children hospitalized in the Burn Center of the University of Health Sciences Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey. We classified patients into Turkish (host country) and Syrian (refugee) children.&#x0D; Results We studied 42 Turkish and 31 Syrian children with burn injuries. The most common heat source was a stove (93.2%) and the most common place of the accident was the kitchen (45.2%). Maternal education (P=0.022), house ownership (P&lt;0.001), number of rooms in the house (P=0.001), number of household members (P=0.007), number of persons per room (P&lt;0.001), and place of heat source (P=0.009) differed significantly between Turkish and Syrian patients. Mean number of household members was 5.38 persons (SD 1.0) and 6.81 persons (SD 0.9) in Turkish and Syrian patients, respectively (P=0.007).&#x0D; Conclusion Low socioeconomic status with overcrowded living conditions is prominent in both groups. Burns are likely to occur in the kitchen and incited by a stove. Preventive strategies are needed to educate families on the importance of simple safety measures in the house.

765 Treatment of burns due to application of hair extensions and braiding in younger female patients

IntroductionBurn injury due to hair styling processes have been reported in the literature, but most of those have been reported to involve flat irons or chemical processing during hair coloring. Moreover, these injuries have predominantly involved adult patients. In the past, our center has seen similar injuries intermittently, with the addition of hot comb burns to the scalp as well.More recently, a number of younger female patients have been treated for a more uncommon injury related to application of hair extensions. The hair extensions are curled with hot boiling water which is usually taken from the microwave. The ends of the extensions are dipped in the hot water and when they are applied to the hair, the hot water burns the back, shoulders, and scalp.The purpose of this project is to describe the mechanism of injury from this type of hair styling process and to identify the population at risk. This will serve to raise awareness in the community so that preventive measures might be considered.MethodsThis is a case series describing an unusual mechanism of burn injury reviewing admissions from January 2016 through June 30, 2021.ResultsA total of 35 patients were admitted for this type of burn during this time. 32 were children and 3 were adults. Though this type of injury occurs more commonly in children, it can occur in adults as well. For purposes of this study, the focus will be injuries occurring in children. ConclusionsThis case series serves as a public service announcement to alert parents of young girls obtaining hair extensions and parents braiding the hair of young children of the potential danger of burn injury from the process. Burn clinicians are obligated to provide education that serves to help prevent such injuries. This presentation serves that purpose as well.

Identification of Novel Biomarkers With Diagnostic Value and Immune Infiltration in Burn Injury.

Burn injury is an intractable problem in the field of surgery where screening relevant target genes and exploring pathological mechanisms through bioinformatic methods has become a necessity. Herein, we integrated three burn injury mRNA microarray datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database to analyze the hub differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between burn injury patient samples and healthy human samples; we conducted multiple functional enrichment analyses and constructed the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. Finally, we evaluated the immune infiltration in the burn injury microenvironment. A total of 84 intersection DEGs (32 upregulated and 52 downregulated) were screened in burn injury patients via integrated analyses. Upregulated genes were primarily enriched in regulation of T cell activation, regulation of response to DNA damage stimulus, positive regulation of innate immune response, positive regulation of defense response. We also identified 10 hub genes from the PPI network (CCNB2, MYO10, TTK, POLQ, VASP, TIMP1, CDK16, MMP1, ZYX, and PKMYT1). Next, we found that 22 immune cells were substantially changed during the burn injury by CIBERSORT. In addition, we verified that VASP and POLQ are two novel diagnostic markers in burn processes with high diagnostic efficacy via immunohistochemistry. In summary, we identified several key genes involved in burn injury and provided a favorable basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of burn injury through comprehensive bioinformatic analysis.

Seasonal effects on the mechanisms of burn injuries.

This study aimed to evaluate seasonal effects on the mechanisms of burn injuries in patients requiring hospitalization. A retrospective evaluation was made using the information of 419 hospitalized burns patients, including demographic data, degree and percentage of burn injury, cause and mechanism of burn injury, morbidity and mortality. Burn mechanisms were grouped as thermal burns (flame, boiling liquid, contact), chemical burns and electrical burns. When calculating the percentage of body surface area burned, the rule of nines was applied. Seasonal classification was made appropriate to the northern hemisphere. According to the seasons, the most burns were seen in spring months (n= 130, 31.0%). In the examination of the mechanism of burn injury, the most common type of injury was boiling liquid in 159 patients followed by flame injury in 146 patients. There was an increase in electrical and chemical burns in spring and summer. A statistically significant difference was determined between the types of burns according to the seasons (p= 0.024). The burn injury occurred as a result of a workplace accident in 82 cases, the majority of which were in autumn, and summer, and the difference in the seasons was determined to be statistically significant (p= 0.045). There was a statistically significant increase in the exposure of individuals aged >65 years to boiling liquid burns in winter and summer months (p= 0.014). The results of this study showed a seasonal effect on the types of burn injuries. A higher rate of thermal burns was expected to be found in winter, but this was not the case in patients with indications for hospitalization, as chemical and electrical burns in workplace accidents were seen more frequently in warmer seasons of spring and summer. In this context, burns units should be prepared for patient profiles to vary according to the season.

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

BackgroundRisk 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. MethodsInformation 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. ResultsBoys 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. ConclusionOutcomes 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.

Hyperbaric Oxygen and Mortality in Burns With Inhalation Injury: A Study of the National Burn Repository.

Mortality in burn injury is primarily influenced by three factors: age, percent burn (%TBSA), and presence of inhalation injury. Numerous modalities have been tried in an attempt to treat those patients with burns and inhalation injury, including the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). The aim of our study was to find the national prevalence of HBO for burns with inhalation injury, and whether HBO influenced mortality in these often severely injured patients. This retrospective study used the National Burn Repository (NBR) to identify hospital admissions of patients with both cutaneous burn and inhalation injuries. After applying exclusion criteria, a total of 13,044 patients were identified. Variables included in the multivariate regression analysis included age, sex, race, payer, mechanism of burn injury, TBSA group, total procedure number, mechanical ventilator days, and treatment with HBO. The main outcome variable was mortality. Of the 13,044 patients, 67 had HBO therapy. The HBO patients were older (mean age 51.7 vs 42.8 years, P < .001), but had smaller burns and thus a similar Baux score (66.6 vs 65.2, P = .661). The HBO patients had a higher mortality (29.9% vs 17.5%, P = .01). On multivariate regression analysis, HBO was an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio = 2.484, P = .004). Other significant predictors of mortality included age, black race, Medicaid or uninsured patients, and %TBSA. The use of HBO for patients with burns and inhalation injury is uncommon in this database. It is unclear whether that reflects low prevalence or if individual centers do not all impute HBO into the NBR. For those patients in this database, HBO is an independent predictor of mortality. It can be difficult to determine the severity of inhalation injury in the NBR, so those patients receiving HBO could theoretically have more severe inhalation injury.

Association Between Perineal Burns Injury and In-hospital Mortality: A Retrospective Observational Study from the Nation-Wide Burn Registry in Japan.

Although perineal burn injury is included in the burn center referral criteria for Advanced Burn Life Support, clinical evidence that perineal burn injury increases mortality risk is limited, especially from Asian countries. The objective of this study was to investigate whether perineal burns affect in-hospital mortality. Using data from the nation-wide burn registry collected from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2019, we retrospectively identified 10,179 hospitalized burn patients over 16 years of age. The in-hospital mortality rate between the patients with perineal burn and those with other burns was compared, and the adjusted odds ratio for in-hospital mortality was determined with multivariable logistic regression analysis controlling for age, gender, mechanism of burn injury, year of admission, total burn surface area, inhalation injury, hand injury, and transfers from another hospital. One thousand one hundred forty-nine patients with perineal burn were enrolled, and the in-hospital mortality of this group was higher than that of the group of patients with other types of burns (46 vs 5.2%, P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis found that the presence of perineal burns is associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 2.11 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.64-2.71]; P < 0.001). Our data, as evidence, certified the referral criteria that perineal burn injury is associated with higher in-hospital mortality in Japan.

517 Hyperbaric Oxygen and Mortality in Burns with Inhalation Injury: a Study of the National Burn Repository

Abstract Introduction Mortality in burn injury is primarily influenced by three factors: age, percent burn (%TBSA), and presence of inhalation injury. Numerous modalities have been tried in an attempt to treat those patients with burns and inhalation injury, including the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). The aim of our study was to find the national prevalence of HBO for burns with inhalation injury, and whether HBO influenced mortality in these often severely injured patients. Methods This retrospective study used the National Burn Repository (NBR) to identify hospital admissions of patients with both cutaneous burns and inhalation injuries. After applying exclusion criteria, a total of 13,044 patients were identified. Variables included in the multivariate regression analysis included: age, sex, race, payer, mechanism of burn injury, TBSA group, total procedure number, mechanical ventilator days, and treatment with HBO. The main outcome variable was mortality. Results Of the 13,044 patients, 67 had HBO therapy. The HBO patients were older (mean age 51.7 years vs. 42.8 years, p&amp;lt; 0.001) but had smaller burns and thus a similar Baux score (66.6 vs. 65.2, p=0.661). The HBO patients had a higher mortality (29.9% vs. 17.5%, p= 0.01). On multivariate regression analysis, HBO was an independent predictor of mortality (OR= 2.484, p= 0.004). Other significant predictors of mortality included age, Black race, Medicaid or uninsured patients, and %TBSA. Conclusions The use of HBO for patients with burns and inhalation injury is uncommon in this database. It is unclear whether that reflects low prevalence or if individual centers do not all impute HBO into the NBR. For those patients in this database, HBO is an independent predictor of mortality. It can be difficult to determine the severity of inhalation injury in the NBR, so those patients receiving HBO could theoretically have more severe inhalation injury.

Paediatric chemical burns: a clinical review.

Although they account for a small proportion of burns in paediatrics, injuries from chemicals can be just as devastating as other mechanisms of burn injury. At least 25,000 chemicals exist which can cause burns: in children, they are often caused by household chemicals via accidental exposure. The mechanism by which corrosive substances produce chemical burns highlights the importance of early and plentiful irrigation of the burn area, removal of contaminated clothes and careful clinical assessment. Surgical intervention is uncommon but often follows the principles for thermal burns. This article reviews the aetiology, incidence, clinical presentation, management, complications and prevention of chemical burns. What is Known • Chemical burns in paediatrics are often caused by accidental exposure to chemicals available at home • Differences in the pathophysiology of chemical burns reinforces the need for early irrigation What is New • New irrigation fluids show promise in adults and need further study in children • The nature of chemical cutaneous burns can make assessment of wound depth difficult. Laser Doppler Imaging (LDI) is an accurate technique that can be used clinically to determine burn depth in thermal burns and is an area of future interest in the assessment of chemical burns.

Enzymatic debridement of hands with deep burns: a single center experience in the treatment of 52 hands

Background: Bromelain-based enzymatic debridement has been introduced as an alternative to surgical excision in deep partial thickness and full thickness burns. We aimed to analyze effectiveness and predictors of spontaneous epithelialization after enzymatic debridement of deep hand burns.Methods: All patients who received enzymatic debridement for deep partial thickness or full thickness burns of the hands at our institution in the last 5 years were identified. Demographic, clinical and outcome data were collected and analyzed. For patients with deep partial thickness burns, Kaplan–Meier log-rank and subsequent multivariate Cox-regression analysis were performed to identify predictors of spontaneous epithelialization.Results: 44 patients and 52 hands were treated in the observation period. Among these, 14 had full thickness burns and received split thickness skin grafts. In the 38 hands with deep partial thickness burns, predictors of 28-day epithelialization were total burn extent and mechanism of burn injury. During the first 3 years, 8 out of 13 treated deep partial thickness burns received split thickness skin grafts after a median of 3 days. The following 3 years, 5 out of 25 deep partial thickness burns received surgery after a median of 14 days.Conclusions: Enzymatic debridement is a useful tool in the treatment of burned hands but the decision-making and correct timing of operative intervention in deep partial thickness burns after debridement requires experience. In our cohort, spontaneous healing of deep partial thickness burns was best in patients with contact burns and less than 15% burn TBSA.

663 Effect of Admission Vitamin D Levels on Outcomes in Pediatric Burn Patients

Abstract Introduction The effect of vitamin D levels on clinical outcomes has been studied in critically ill non-burn patients and adult burn patients. Low vitamin D levels predicted sepsis and were associated with in-hospital mortality in critically ill non-burn patients. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in adult burn patients correlated with higher rates of complications and longer ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS). Vitamin D levels in pediatric patients have been studied during the post-burn period, showing that low vitamin D levels post-burn may play a role in post-burn osteopenia. However, the effects of admission vitamin D levels on outcomes have not been evaluated in the pediatric burn population. Methods This is a retrospective study of pediatric burn patients admitted to an American Burn Association verified burn center over a 3-year period. Patients were included if they were under the age of 18 years and had a vitamin D level measured within 7 days of admission. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as vitamin D level less than 12 ng/mL; insufficiency as vitamin D level 12–20 ng/mL; sufficiency greater than 20 ng/mL. Basic demographics were collected. Outcome data collected included infection, graft loss, renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy, LOS, number of days requiring the ventilator, and need for vasopressors. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0. P &amp;lt; 0.05 was considered significant. Results A total of 249 pediatric patients were admitted during the study period. Of those, 38 patients had vitamin D levels measured within the first 7 days of admission and were included in the study. No patients were vitamin D deficient, and 7 (18%) patients were vitamin D insufficient. No significant differences were observed between patients who were vitamin D sufficient or insufficient with regards to sex, race, or mechanism of burn injury. Patients who were vitamin D insufficient had a longer LOS (15 days vs. 3.34 days; p = 0.023), a larger total body surface area burn size (16.75% vs. 7.23%; p = 0.027), and required more surgeries (1.14 vs. 0.06; p = 0.037). After adjustment for age and gender, higher vitamin D levels were associated with an increased chance of not having surgery (OR = 1.29, 95%CI[1.06–1.58]; p = 0.013). Conclusions Despite its retrospective nature and small sample size, our study suggests that pediatric patients who present with vitamin D insufficiency may be at risk for increased LOS and need for surgery. Applicability of Research to Practice Larger studies are warranted to identify outcomes affected by low vitamin D levels on admission as well as socioeconomic factors, such poverty level and food insecurity, that may affect vitamin D levels on admission.

774 Examination of the Religious and Spiritual Needs of Acutely Injured Burn Patients

Abstract Introduction Despite advances in burn care that dramatically increase survivability for severe burn injuries, individuals who suffer such injuries will likely experience long recovery periods complicated by declines in psychological, social, behavioral, occupational, and sexual functioning. We compared the self-importance of spirituality in a patient’s life with select demographic data in order to better understand the role of spirituality in the treatment and recovery of patients in the Burn Intensive Care Unit (BICU). Methods In this survey study and subsequent retrospective review, we explored the importance of spiritual beliefs and practices to the burn patient population within the BICU. We utilized the Belief into Action Scale (BIAC), which is a validated survey tool designed to quantify the full range of an individual’s religious involvement. Each participant completed one BIAC survey during his or her inpatient stay. We then collected patient demographics, including religious affiliation and the number of pastoral visits received. Injury characteristics and outcome measures were examined including, Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) burn, length of stay (LOS), and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Results Between April and June of 2019, surveys were administered to 32 adult participants. The participants ranged in age from 21 to 83 (mean 52.5), 59% (19/32) were male and 41% (13/32) were female. Of the 32 participants, 69% were Caucasian, 25% were African American, 3% were Hispanic/Latino, and 3% were other. Sixty-six percent (21/32) had no religious affiliation identified within their medical record and 31% (10/32) of patients had at least 1 pastoral visit (range 0–5 visits). TBSA ranged from 0% (10/32) to 35%, seven (22%) participants had an inhalation injury, the most common mechanism of burn injury was flame (43.75%), and the average length of stay was 16 days (range 1–75 days). Mean BIAC score was 44.8 (out of 100), with a median of 46.5 and a standard deviation of 22.6, indicating a moderate degree of spiritual and religious beliefs. Conclusions Acutely injured burn patients, admitted to an urban burn center, report a moderate degree of spiritual and religious beliefs, strongly supporting the need for pastoral care in this population. Applicability of Research to Practice The increased likelihood of survival for severely burn injured patients has led to the need for a greater emphasis on the potential psychological and social morbidity for these individuals. This research highlights the importance of addressing the spiritual needs of burn patients.

508 The Unique Challenge of Road Rash Injuries: A Systematic Literature Review and Case Series Addressing A Poorly Understood Mechanism of Burn Injury

508 The Unique Challenge of Road Rash Injuries: A Systematic Literature Review and Case Series Addressing A Poorly Understood Mechanism of Burn Injury

94 The Impact of Hurricanes on Mechanisms of Burn Injury

94 The Impact of Hurricanes on Mechanisms of Burn Injury

The Unrecognized Epidemic of Electronic Cigarette Burns.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are novel battery-operated devices that deliver nicotine as an inhaled aerosol. They originated from China in 2007 and their use has rapidly increased worldwide in the past decade, yet they remain largely unregulated. Reports of injuries associated with their use have appeared as unusual events in the news media and as case reports in the medical literature. This study was undertaken to explore e-cigarettes as a mechanism of burn injury. Referral records to three burn centers from January 2007 to July 2016 were searched to identify patients with injuries caused by e-cigarettes. Data were gathered from the electronic medical records (EMRs) of patients referred within the most recent 18 months. Thirty patients with burns resulting from e-cigarettes were identified. Twenty-nine were referred within the most recent 18 months. Only one was referred in the preceding 8 years. An explosion was identified by the patient as the inciting event in 26 of the 30 injuries (87%). Explosion of an isolated battery while it was carried on personal attire was reported in 10 cases. Explosion of a fully assembled e-cigarette was described in 16 cases. In seven of these 16 cases, the explosion occurred while the device was idle and carried on personal attire. In the other nine cases, the explosion occurred while the device was being operated. No injury occurred while batteries were charging. The mean age of injured patients was 30 years. The mean size of burn was 4% TBSA. The thighs, hands, and genitalia were the most common sites of injury. Twenty-six patients required hospital admission and nine required surgery. Serious burn injuries from e-cigarettes have recently occurred with greatly increased frequency. The increase in injuries appears out of proportion to the increased popularity of e-cigarettes. The most common pattern of injury is explosion when either the idle device or its batteries are carried on personal attire.

Discrepancy in Initial Pediatric Burn Estimates and Its Impact on Fluid Resuscitation

One of the fundamental aspects of initial burn care is the ability to accurately measure the TBSA of injured tissue. Discrepancies between initial estimates of burn size and actual TBSA (determined at the burn unit) have long been reported. These inconsistencies have the potential for unnecessary patient transfer and inappropriate fluid administration which may result in morbidity. In an effort to study these inconsistencies and their impact on initial care, we evaluated the differences between initial TBSA estimates and its impact on fluid resuscitation at an American Burn Association-verified pediatric burn center. A prospective observational study of 50 consecutive burn patients admitted to Shriner's Hospital for Children in Boston, Massachusetts, between October 2011 and April 2012 was performed. Data collected included age, mechanism of burn injury, type of referral center, referring hospital TBSA, and volume of fluid administration as well as admission TBSA and volume of fluid administration. Determination of over or under resuscitation was based on comparing the amount of fluids received at the referral center to that received at the pediatric burn center. A total of 50 patients were admitted during the 7-month study period. The average age was 4.1 years old (25 days-16 years) and the average TBSA was 2.5% (0.25-55%). There were significant differences in the TBSA calculations between referring centers and the pediatric burn center. Overestimation of scald and contact burn size (P < .05) was noted with no difference in flame burn size estimation. Community referrals were more likely than tertiary centers to overestimate TBSA (P < .05 vs P = .29). Overall, 59% of study patients were administered more fluid at the referring hospital than would have been expected by the burn size calculated at our facility. Inconsistencies with the estimation of TBSA burn between referring hospitals and tertiary referral centers remains a problem in pediatric patients and may lead to inappropriate resuscitation. This study highlights the continued need for educational outreach programs and for the provision of novel resources to initial burn providers. Additional support through online resources (eg, Lund-Browder diagram) and remotely assisting providers during their TBSA measurements are potential options which may help to improve the initial care of burn patients.