Scald Burn Research Articles

Endothelial dysfunction is dampened by early administration of fresh frozen plasma in a rodent burn shock model.

Endothelial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of burn shock affecting patients with large thermal injury. In response to injury, glycocalyx components like Syndecan-1 (SDC-1) are shed into circulation and have been used as markers of endothelial damage. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that plasma inclusive resuscitation (PIR) with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) ameliorates endothelial damage. However, there remains a paucity of information regarding optimal timing and dosing of PIR as well as organ-specific endothelial responses to shock. We aimed to examine the impact of PIR on endothelial dysfunction using clinically translatable timing and dosing. Sprague-Dawley rats were used to create thermal burns. Rats were subjected to 40% total body surface area scald burns and were resuscitated with lactated Ringer's (LR) only, LR plus albumin, and LR plus early 1 mL boluses of FFP at 0, 2, 4, and 8 hours postinjury. A late group also received LR plus FFP starting at hour 10 postinjury. Syndecan-1 levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis characterized transcription of glycocalyx components and inflammatory cytokines in the lung and spleen. Evan's blue dye was used to quantify amount of vascular leakage. Lactated Ringer's plus early FFP reduced Evan's blue dye extravasation when compared with LR only groups, while late FFP did not. When comparing LR only versus LR plus early FFP, SDC-1 levels were reduced in the LR plus early FFP group at hours 8, 12, and 24 (5.23 vs. 2.07, p < 0.001; 4.49 vs. 2.05, p < 0.01; and 3.82 vs. 2.08, p < 0.05, respectively). Lactated Ringer's only groups had upregulation of Exostosin-1 and SDC-1 in the lung compared with LR plus early FFP groups ( p < 0.01 and p < 0.05) and upregulation of cytokines interluekin-10 and interferon γ ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Early administration of LR plus FFP reduces the magnitude of SDC-1 shedding and dampens the cytokine response to injury. The upregulation of glycocalyx components as a response to endothelial injury is also decreased in the lung and spleen by LR plus early FFP administration.

Analysis of pediatric hand injuries in a tertiary care children’s hospital

Pediatric hand traumas are common injuries in childhood. The incidence and type of injury vary with age. In our country, there are only two publications in which only crush is examined in etiology. In this study, we aimed to develop a strategy to prevent hand injuries by examining pediatric hand injuries according to the child’s developmental stage and anatomical region. The data of 493 (315 boys, 178 girls) patients under the age of 18 between 2016 and 2020 were analyzed. Patients were categorized according to etiology and age. Males are more dominant in pediatric hand injuries (63.9%). The most common cause of hand injuries under the age of 4 years is scald burns. While distal phalanx fractures (79.7%) are more common under 7 years of age, little finger fractures (44.7%) are more common than other finger fractures over 7 years of age. The reason for the increase in fifth metacarpal (neck) fractures between the ages of 12 and 17 years is fighting and punching. Door/window jamming injuries (60.7%) are more common under the age of 7 years, while there is an increase in sports injuries (94.7%) over the age of 7 years. The findings of this study provided age-specific information about the anatomical site, objects, activities, mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment associated with hand and finger injuries. While developing a strategy to prevent childhood hand and finger injuries in Turkey, it is necessary to focus on age.

Examination of Pediatric Burn Incidence and the Impact of Social Determinants of Health in Florida.

Introduction Burn injuries are a major mechanism of trauma worldwide, caused by friction, cold, heat, radiation, chemical, or electric sources. Most often, burn injuries occur due to heat contact from hot liquids, solids, or fire, termed scald burns and flame burns, respectively. These types of injuries are complex and carry major injury and mortality risks, especially in pediatric populations. Burn trauma prevention has been a major focus in the US, with initiatives to increase public health outreach and safety measures. Unfortunately, children in socioeconomically disadvantaged situations may face these types of injuries at disproportionately higher rates, and we aim to highlight these disparities, if any, within our Florida community. Materials and methods This study was designed as a retrospective observational analysis using publicly available data from the Florida Health Community Health Assessment Resource Tool Set (CHARTS). Data was extracted for nonfatal burn injuries resulting in ED visits in the years 2018-2020. This data was limited to those ranging from 0 to 19 years old and converted to rates of burn injuries per 100,000. Sociodemographic details for each county were recorded from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps and compared with burn data in each respective county. Frequencies were generated for categorical data, and statistical analyses for burn rates and sociodemographic details were performed with a generalized linear model using a Poisson distribution and bivariate correlation for a p < 0.05. Results In Florida, the median annual burn rate per 100,000 was 136 (IQR: 96-179), with Jackson county holding the highest rate of 323 and Glades, Hardee, and Lafayette each holding a rate of 0. Of the 18 socioeconomic factors examined, a total of five were found to have no statistically significant effect on nonfatal burn injury ED visits: severe housing problems, percentage of Asians, teen births, percentage of children (<18 years) in poverty, and severe housing cost burden. The two most important factors to be found in nonfatal burn ED visits of pediatric patients were the percentage of those younger than 19 years old without health insurance and the average grade level performance of third-grader reading scores. When adjusting for the small sample size using Firth's bias-adjusted estimates and overdispersion, both reading scores and those without insurance play a significant role in pediatric burn injuries. For each increase in a single point in reading scores, the incidence rate ratio decreases by 97.1% (95% CI). For every percentage increase in children insured, there is a 28.8% decrease in pediatric burn injuries (95% CI). Conclusions This analysis highlights increased pediatric burn rates across multiple social determinants of health (SDOH) in all 67 Florida counties. The findings here demonstrate that there may continue to be a disproportionate distribution of burn rates among lower and higher sociodemographic areas. This study further highlights this trend within the Florida community, and continued research will be necessary to meet the needs of lower sociodemographic areas to improve burn rates in vulnerable populations, such as children, who are at increased risk of injury.

Management of Outpatient Pediatric Burns at a Pediatric Burn Center.

Burn injuries are a serious emergency. Most burn injuries in children can be treated as outpatients. The aim of this study was to present the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of pediatric burn injuries treated in our outpatient burn clinic. This study included pediatric patients treated in an outpatient burn clinic over an 8-year period. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to their age groups, and the differences between the groups were investigated. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 25.0. P < .05 was accepted as statistically significant. Of the total 5167 patients, 2811 (54.4%) were male. Scald burns were the most common cause of burns (81.4%). Contact burns accounted for 12.2% of all burns. There were no differences between sexes for any variable. The highest incidence was seen in children in the 2- to 5-year-old age group (28.3%). There were differences between age groups in terms of sex, burn area, burn visit, burn type, burn location, need for wound dressing under anesthesia, and need for grafting. Among the patients, 4.9% were hospitalized due to the need for wound dressing under anesthesia. However, most of the patients (95.1%) were treated as outpatients. In conclusion, the majority of pediatric burn patients can be treated as outpatients. This allows pediatric patients to complete treatment in a psychologically comfortable environment and has low complication rates. Outpatient treatment should become the standard for children who are suitable for outpatient follow-up and who have home support.

One disaster two traumas: Being under rubble and burn injuries in the 2023 Maraş, Turkey earthquakes

IntroductionOn February 6, 2023, two separate destructive earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.5 occurred in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye. More than 50,000 people lost their lives, and over 100,000 were reported injured. In this study, patients referred to hospitals with burn diagnosis and management of burn wounds following the disaster were evaluated. Material and methodsInformation on burn injury admissions related to the earthquake was collected from all burn facilities in the country within 15 days after the earthquake. The patients' demographics, being under rubble, rescue times, burn causes, grafting procedures, and deaths were recorded. ResultsFollowing the earthquake, burn victims were transferred to the 13 Burn Treatment Centers located in 10 provinces. A total of 191 patients were burned. Among the burn patients, 101 (52.9%) were rescued from the rubble 2–60 h after the earthquake. Eight patients who were hospitalized at the burn centers died. Scalding and flame burns were the most common etiologies. Burned total body surface area, concomitant crush injury, hospitalization, and mortality was higher among the patients trapped under rubble (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Victims who stayed longer time under the rubble required significantly more grafting procedures (p < 0.001). ConclusionIn a literature review, it was observed that there are a limited number of publications reporting earthquake-related burns. In the February, 6 Türkiye earthquake, flame burns were seen due to small fires that occurred in collapsed buildings during the earthquake. And also contact burns and hot liquid burns were seen in earthquake victims trapped under rubble. Bursting hot water pipes, overturned stoves, contact with hot central heating radiators, and heated construction irons caused scalding and contact burns. It is believed that prolonged entrapment may cause delays in burn treatment or lead to deeper burns due to prolonged contact with the burning agent, increasing hospitalization rates. This earthquake once again drew attention to burn injuries that could occur during and after earthquakes, including those that may occur under rubble.

In vivo visualization of burn depth in skin tissue of rats using hemoglobin parameters estimated by diffuse reflectance spectral imaging.

Burn injuries represent a global public health problem that kills an estimated 180,000 people annually. Non-fatal burns result in prolonged hospitalization, disfigurement, and disability. The most common, convenient, and widely used method for assessing burn depth is physical or visual examination, but the accuracy of this method is reportedly poor (60% to 75%). Rapid, correct assessment of burn depth is very important for the optimal management and treatment of burn patients. New methods of burn depth assessment that are inexpensive, simple, rapid, non-contact, and non-invasive are therefore needed. The aim of this study was to propose an approach to visualize the spatial distribution of burn depth using hemoglobin parameters estimated from spectral diffuse reflectance imaging and to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach for differentiating burn depth in a rat model of scald burn injury. The new approach to creating a spatial map of burn depth was based on canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) of total hemoglobin concentration, tissue oxygen saturation, and methemoglobin saturation as estimated from spectral diffuse reflectance images. Burns of three different degrees of severity were created in rat dorsal skin by 10-s exposure to water maintained at 70°C, 78°C, and 98°C, respectively. Spectral images for dorsal regions were acquired under anesthesia immediately after burn injury and at 24h, 48h, and 72h after injury. Most areas of images in the group with skin exposed to 70°C water and 98°C water were classified as 70°C burn and 98°C burn, respectively. In contrast, no significant difference between areas classified as 78°C burn and 98°C burn from 24h to 72h was evident in the group with skin exposed to 78°C water, suggesting that burn depth was heterogeneous. The proposed approach combining diffuse reflectance spectral imaging and CDA appears promising for differentiating 70°C burns from 78°C burns and 98°C burns, and 98°C burns from 70°C burns and 78°C burns at 24 to 72h after burn injury in a rat model of scald burn injury.

PATTERNS AND OUTCOMES OF PEDIATRIC BURN INJURIES IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL’s BURN UNIT

IntroductionBurn is skin and tissue damage caused by various agents such as fire, scalds, electricity, chemicals, or radiation injuries. Globally, burn injuries pose a substantial public health challenge, with a high risk of mortality and morbidity, accounting for over 310,000 annual deaths. Nearly 75 % of burns in young children result from scald burns and infants have the highest mortality rates. Factors such as large surface area of burn, inhalational injury, poverty, and the presence of sepsis contribute significantly to mortality and morbidity in burns. ObjectiveTo assess the pattern of presentation of pediatric burn injuries and their management outcomes. MethodsA hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were extracted from patient charts, cleaned, coded, checked for completeness, and entered into SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for data analysis, and graphical presentations were utilized to present the result findings. ResultsAmong the 218 paediatric burn patients admitted to the Addis Ababa Burn, Emergency and Trauma Hospital’s burn unit, 71.1 % had sustained scald burns due to hot water splashes, while 20.2 % of the patients were admitted due to flame burns. Superficial partial thickness burns occurred in 53.6 % of the patients, with the upper extremity and trunk being the most commonly affected sites. Approximately 38.2 % of the patients developed acute complications, with sepsis of the wound focus being the most common. Chronic complications occurred in 30.7 % of patients, primarily in the form of post-burn contractures. A mortality rate of 3.2 % was observed during the admission period with 2.3 % of deaths occurring in children under 5 years and those with major burns. Conclusion & RecommendationThe primary causes of burns in the pediatric age group are predominantly preventable scalds. Children, especially when unsupervised at home, particularly in kitchens, demand meticulous attention and care to mitigate the risk of burn injuries.

Treatment of Second-Degree Scald Burn with the Application of Madhuchistadi Ghrita

Burn is one of the common conditions affected by individuals in day-to-day activity which needs extra attention to prevent ugly scars and many more complications. Ayurveda has a wide range of herbal formulations to manage such types of burn wounds. Among them, one is Madhuchistadi Ghrita which has burn wound healing properties by its Vrana Ropana drugs. A 45-year-old male patient suffered second-degree scald burn along with blisters and burning over the right hand for four days. The patient was successfully treated with a local application of Madhuchistadi Ghrita twice daily for 15 days. After seven days of treatment, the wound was 70% covered with epithelialization and at the end of 15 days, the wound was completely healed. During the follow-up period of 1 month, the skin was completely remodeled with the presence of skin appendages. This is a single case report with a positive outcome on the treatment of second-degree scald burns with the application of Madhuchistadi Ghrita.

The Current Pattern of Pediatric Burn Injuries in an Australian Major Burns Center.

Burns are a common mechanism of pediatric injury worldwide and a notable cause of disability-adjusted life-years. Burns in children represent a unique challenge due to the differences from adults regarding physical characteristics, physiology, and psychology. This retrospective cohort study examined trends of pediatric burns in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, from 2010 to 2022. It specifically focused on the changes in burn etiology and patient characteristics, body area affected, TBSA, first aid, location, and management. It also compared a "Pre-COVID-19" and "Peri-COVID-19" era to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the pattern of pediatric burns, as children are at higher risk of injury during times of social disruption. The study found that burns in children continue to be concentrated in the toddler and preschooler age group, and the main mechanisms of injury remain as scald and contact burns. In recent years, there has been a rising trend of friction burns, alongside a fall in flame burns and severe burns. Management of pediatric burns has also evolved, with predominant use of ambulatory care and low rates of admission and operative intervention. Trends in burn injury continue to evolve with time, and over the last decade in NSW, key changes in the pattern of pediatric burns have been observed, with evolving mechanisms of injury, reduced severity of burns, and a shift toward ambulatory care.

Observational Descriptive Study on Medico-Legal Aspects of Burn Cases Reported at JLN Medical College, Ajmer

This study investigates the medicolegal aspects of burn-related deaths through autopsy cases across various age groups and burn types, including flame, electric, chemical, and scald burns, analyzed from July 2022 to December 2023. Out of 46 cases, males (78%) were notably more affected than females (22%), with the 0-10 age group having the highest incidence, especially in urban areas. Flame burns were the leading cause (52%), followed by electric burns (35%), with shock as the primary cause of death, particularly within the first two days. Accidental burns accounted for the majority of cases (80%), though suicidal and homicidal burns were also observed. The findings reflect regional differences in burn patterns and highlight critical risk factors, underscoring the importance of targeted safety protocols and preventive measures. Comparisons with prior studies reveal similar trends in burn severity and cause but suggest regional variations influenced by socio-cultural and occupational factors.

Climate change and pavement burns in the United Kingdom: a case report of two patients.

Pavement burns are more common in locations familiarised with high temperatures and a dry climate zone, but have not previously been reported in temperate climates. We present two cases of patients who suffered pavement burns in the United Kingdom during an unprecedentedly hot day in July 2022. The first case involved a 66-year-old male who suffered partial and full thickness burns requiring excision and skin grafting. The second case involved a 58-year-old female with partial thickness burns also requiring excision and skin grafting. Both patients had pre-existing co-morbidities and their pavement burns were precipitated by heat stroke. Pavement burns represent a mechanism of injury that necessitates increased operative management, length of hospital stay and cost per surface area burned when compared to flame or scald burns (Silver et al., 2015). As a result of global warming, we anticipate extreme heat events, and subsequently pavement burns, to increase in incidence in the United Kingdom. There is opportunity for education of the public and health professionals for prevention.

Management of Pediatric Upper Extremity Scald Burn in a Tertiary care hospital

Burns injuries are a common presentation of childhood injuries. The majority of admissions result from scalds, followed by contact and flame burns. The incidence of burns is higher in children than adults, and it starts when they begin to reach up for things and also because of more vulnerability and inability to move away from the causative agent. Although the upper extremity constitutes approximately 18% of the total body surface area, the sequelae and subsequent functional outcomes following upper extremity burns significantly impact the quality of life for the affected children. Appropriate initial management commencing from the acute phase in children remains of great importance in optimizing functional outcomes and minimizing long-term scar formation. In this case report, we discuss the management of upper extremity scald burn wounds in our center.

Outcomes in patients with burns to the perineum, buttocks and genitalia: A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundBurns that involve the perineum, buttocks and genitals (PBG) have been associated with more challenging therapeutic needs and worse clinical outcomes. We aimed to investigate whether PBG burns are an independent predictor for mortality, morbidity and complications in a large, heterogenous patient collective and in comparison to patients without PBG burns. Patients and MethodsPatients admitted to a level one burn center between August 2014 and July 2022 were included and stratified based on the presence of PBG burns on admission (PBG & control group = CTR). Demographic baseline data, burn aetiology, inhalation trauma (IHT), full-thickness burns (FT), number of operations (NOR), mortality, length of ICU stay (LOS-ICU), length of in-hospital stay (LOHS) and bacteraemia were assessed to compare key clinical characteristics and outcomes between the groups. Multivariate regression analyses and a 1:1 propensity score matching were conducted for key clinical outcomes. ResultsA total of 1024 patients were included in the analysis (PBG: n = 227; CTR: n = 797). PBG burns were older (median (IQR) 54 (34−72) vs. 44, (30−61) years, p < 0.0001), more frequently female (35% vs. 23%, p = 0.002) presented with larger total body surface area (TBSA) burns overall (27 (32−39) vs. 10 (13−15) %, p < 0.0001) and sustained FT burns more frequently (69% vs. 26% p < 0.0001). Scald burns were more frequently the cause of PBG burns (45% vs. 15%, p < 0.0001), PBG patients needed twice as many surgical procedures (Mean (SD) 2 (2.84) vs. 1 (1.6), p < 0.0001) as CTR. In multivariate analyses, a significant correlation was identified between length of ICU stay and presence of PBG burns. Following strict cohort matching to account for sex, age, cause of burn, TBSA %, presence of FT burn, inhalation trauma and bacteraemia, PBG burns were an independent predictor for mortality (p = 0.0003). ConclusionPBG burns are at risk for prolonged intensive care, hospitalization and complications during treatment. Furthermore, the presence of PBG burns appears to be a risk factor for mortality, irrespective of patient age, TBSA affected and other relevant covariates.

C-TYPE LECTIN-2D RECEPTOR CONTRIBUTES TO HISTONE-INDUCED VASCULAR BARRIER DYSFUNCTION DURING BURN INJURY.

Severe burns are associated with massive tissue destruction and cell death where nucleus histones and other damage-associated molecular patterns are released into the circulation and contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple-organ dysfunction. Currently, there is limited information regarding the pathophysiology of extracellular histones after burns, and the mechanisms underlying histone-induced vascular injury are not fully understood. In this study, by comparing the blood samples from healthy donors and burn patients, we confirmed that burn injury promoted the release of extracellular histones into the circulation, evidenced by increased plasma levels of histones correlating with injury severity. The direct effects of extracellular histones on human endothelial monolayers were examined, and the results showed that histones caused cell-cell adherens junction discontinuity and barrier dysfunction in a dose-related manner. Like burn patients, mice subjected to a scald burn covering 25% total body surface area also displayed significantly increased plasma histones. Intravital microscopic analysis of mouse mesenteric microcirculation indicated that treatment with a histone antibody greatly attenuated burn-induced plasma leakage in postcapillary venules, supporting the pathogenic role of extracellular histones in the development of microvascular barrier dysfunction during burns. At the molecular level, intrigued by the recent discovery of C-type lectin domain family 2 member D (Clec2d) as a novel receptor of histones, we tested its potential involvement in the histone interaction with endothelial cells. Indeed, we identified abundant expression of Clec2d in vascular endothelial cells. Further proximity ligation assay demonstrated a close association between extracellular histones and endothelial expressing Clec2d. Functionally, in vivo administration of an anti-Clec2d antibody attenuated burn-induced plasma leakage across mesenteric microvessels. Consistently, Clec2d knockdown in endothelial cells partially inhibited histone-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction. Together, our data suggest that burn injury-induced increases in circulating histones contribute to microvascular leakage and endothelial barrier dysfunction via a mechanism involving the endothelial Clec2d receptor.

Study of burn injuries and pattern with seasonal variation in a tertiary care centre

Background: Burn injuries pose a significant public health concern, necessitating a detailed investigation to enhance injury prevention strategies. This study investigates the distribution and patterns of burn injuries in a tertiary care centre, focusing on gender, age, burn types, outcomes, and seasonal variations. Methods: Data from a multi-year retrospective analysis (2018-2022) were collected and analysed to determine the gender distribution of burn incidents. Additionally, age distributions were examined to understand the prevalence of burns across different age groups. Burn types were classified into flame, scald, electric, and chemical/miscellaneous, while outcomes were categorised as discharged, abscond/LAMA (left against medical advice), death, or transfer to other departments. The study also investigated the seasonal variations in scald and flame burn incidents. Results: The highest gender disparities were observed in 2018 and 2019, with 748 and 661 male cases, respectively, compared to 355 and 345 female cases. Children aged 1-10 constituted the largest burn cases, followed by individuals aged 25-40. Flame burns were the most common, accounting for the highest number of cases throughout the study period. Scald burns ranked second, followed by electric and chemical/miscellaneous burns. Most burn incidents resulted in discharge, followed by abscond/LAMA cases. Deaths and transfers to other departments were less frequent outcomes. The number of discharged cases increased gradually over the study period, indicating positive treatment outcomes. Conclusions: The conclusions emphasize the necessity for all-encompassing preventative initiatives, including public awareness campaigns, safety education, and interventions for vulnerable groups.

Profile of patients with burns according to seasonal changes.

In this study, the aim was to discuss the effects of seasonal changes on the patient profile and number of patients hospitalised at our burn centre. All cases of burns that occurred between 1 January 2014 and 1 January 2020 at our hospital were investigated. In total, 1417 patients were investigated, 799 of whom were male (56.4%) and 618 (43.6%) were female. The number of patients with burns in the 1-4 years age group was the highest of all the age groups. Scald burns and electrical burns were mostly observed in the spring; flame burns were mostly observed in the winter, and hot object contact and chemical burns were mostly observed in the summer. When considered in total, burn cases were mostly observed in spring and autumn. Understanding seasonal epidemiology of burn injuries can facilitate seasonal injury prevention campaigns and education efforts. Burn centres can also allocate resources appropriately, according to the patient volume and possible burn outcomes for each season.

Collagen Application in Pediatric Superficial Burns: The Right Time!

Introduction Delayed presentation of burn patients, in a developing country with the patient being referred from one center to another higher one, is a common occurrence. Efficient management of such delayed burn wounds thus becomes critical to decrease the morbidity of the patient within economic constraints. The advantages of collagen dressing are numerous. However, there is scarce literature on the timing of its application. Traditionally, it is thought that collagen sheets should be applied within 24 hours of burns as the wound is still sterile. This thus becomes ironical as patients are presenting late. Hence, we studied retrospectively the result of collagen application in delayed presentation of burns. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in which records of pediatric patients of less than 10 years with less than 30% total body surface area scald burns were considered. Collagen dressing was done in all these patients. Presentation time from burns, timing of collagen application, status of wound at various check dresses, complication of burn wound, and total healing times were recorded. Appropriate statistical formulas were used to calculate significance levels for continuous and categorical variables. Result Fifty-three patients, 33 male and 20 female were studied. The most common cause of scald was hot water spillage from baths and cooking, with the anterior trunk being the most involved site. The mean time of presentation of the patient from burns is 71.74 hours and that of collagen application was 76.4 hours. Fourteen (25.4%) patients had wound complications in the form of soakage, fever, and pus. Eight patients had their collagen removed. The average healing time for patients with intact collagen was 12.15 days and that for those on daily dressing was 21.9 days. Conclusion Collagen should be preferred even when the patient presents after 24 hours of burns. A thoroughly washed wound is a necessary prerequisite before collagen application. Burn patients presenting after 3 days have a higher incidence of wound infection. No such time stamp of application of collagen sheets within 24 hours can thus be given for its use as the advantages of adhered and successful collagen dressings outweigh those on daily dressings.

Evaluation of Pediatric Cases Followed in Burn Center

Objective: Burn injuries are among the most important causes of unintentional death in young children. Although most pediatric burns do not cause serious clinical problems, severe burns have a higher mortality rate than adult patients with similar burns. In this study, we aimed to discuss the clinical features of pediatric burn patients hospitalized in the Burn Center of Eskisehir City Hospital. Materials and Methods: Pediatric patients between 0 and 18 years of age were followed up since August 2023 and were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were evaluated according to age, gender, presence of chronic diseases, parenteral treatment rates, types of burns, total body surface area and the area affected by the burn. Results: The most common burn type was scald burn with 89.5% (n=246). According to the types of burns, especially scalding and flame burns were found to have a longer hospitalization period than electrical burns. While there was a significant correlation between the percentage of burns and the duration of intensive care unit stay and hospitalization (p=0.001), the number of operations increased as the percentage of burns increased (p=0.072). Conclusion: Exposure to burns was mostly observed in children aged 0-24 months. Burns may cause more serious consequences in pediatric cases. By looking at the types of burns in pediatric patients according to age groups, we think that burn cases in this age group can be reduced by raising awareness of families and taking precautions.

Current Trend in the Epidemiology of Thermal Burn Injury at a Tertiary Hospital in South Western Nigeria.

Worldwide, thermal burn is the leading etiological type of burn injury accounting for 86% of burn injuries requiring admissions. Flame, Scald, and contact burn are the leading causes of thermal burn. Changes in the sociodemographic characteristics of societies have led to alterations in the epidemiology of burn. An understanding of such changes in the epidemiology of burn is essential in formulating and executing adequate burn prevention programs. We sought to establish the current trend in the etiology, gender distribution, age, occurrence of inhalation injury, burn surface area, burn depth, and mortality rate of thermal burns at Ibadan. This was a retrospective study carried out between January 2013 and December 2022. Thermal burns constitute 92% of burn injuries. The male-to-female ratio was 1.4:1. There were 265 (45%) patients in the pediatric age group and 323 adults (55% of the patients). The proportion of flame, scald, and contact burns were 378 (58%), 203 (32%), and 14 (2%), respectively. Flame burns resulting from liquified petroleum gas (LPG) explosion show a rising trend, with a decline in flame burns from kerosene (P < .001). One hundred and ninety (32%) patients had inhalation injury. The overall mortality was 19% (N = 114). Kerosene flame, 38% (17 of 45 patients), and LPG, 32% (41 of 130 patients), were the most lethal causes of flame injuries (P < .043). The study shows the increasing contribution of LPG to the etiology of thermal burn injuries. Burn prevention programs should target safe use of LPG stoves and cylinders.

Evaluation of Burns Patient in a Tertiary Care Hospital

This article describes the evaluation and management of a child with severe burns in a tertiary care center with a dedicated tertiary-level burns unit. An 8-year-old child with 25% Second-degree scald burns was evaluated and treated with ATLS, WHO Guidelines, and assessed with Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI) score. We have used routine blood investigations, and microbiological investigations. The child was treated with intravenous fluids and antibiotics. In addition, regenerative treatment modalities were used to improve wound healing.