Total Body Surface Area Research Articles

Spesolimab decreases generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) body surface area (BSA) over time: Results from the EFFISAYIL® 2 trial

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a chronic inflammatory, potentially life-threatening skin disease. Most patients experience chronic skin symptoms between flares which can lead to significant patient burden. Spesolimab, an anti-interleukin-36 receptor monoclonal antibody, is approved in the United States to treat GPP in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older and weighing at least 40 kg. EFFISAYIL® 2 (NCT04399837) evaluated the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous (SC) spesolimab in GPP. Here, we report the effects on GPP body surface area (BSA) over time in patients treated with the FDA approved spesolimab dosing regimen (600 mg loading dose, then 300 mg maintenance dose every 4 weeks) in EFFISAYIL® 2. Total BSA was determined based on a weighted average of the extent of involvement over 4 main body regions, with head = 10%, upper extremities = 20%, trunk = 30%, and lower extremities = 40%. Total BSA involvement was calculated for each subject at 4 timepoints (baseline, Week 4, Week 16, and Week 48). Data collected closest to the given time points were used by including the effect of potential intravenous spesolimab treatment and subsequent open-label SC spesolimab treatment in patients who experienced a flare. The data were analyzed as observed. Total BSA improved continuously under spesolimab treatment (13.3% at baseline, 10.6% at Week 4, 9.4% at Week 16, ending at 4.5% at Week 48). Continuous treatment with spesolimab SC improved BSA from 13% to 5% at the end of the trial. These findings suggest a role of spesolimab in improving area of involvement as measured by BSA.

Analysis of Burn Casualties in the Swords of Iron War

Abstract The Swords of Iron (SOI) War is an armed conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has been taking place in Gaza from October 2023 until the present time of writing this article. This war is characterized by urban close contact combat. The combat equipment, weaponry, and protective measures employed, differ markedly from those in previously documented major conflicts, significantly impacting the types of injuries sustained by soldiers. This study examines the number of injured soldiers in combat, field mortality rates, incidence of burns and trauma, demographic details of the injured, causes and distribution of injuries, burn characteristics, hemodynamic status, and injury severity. This is a retrospective, registry-based cohort study. Military personnel treated by IDF medical teams with burn injuries from the ground maneuver in Gaza between October 27th, 2023 to April 2024 were included in the analysis. Diagnosis of burn injuries was made in the prehospital setting and recorded in the patient’s casualty cards and the IDF trauma registry and/or in the hospitals, and then recorded by the Israel National Trauma Registry. A total of 2,627 documented military personnel were included. Of them, there was a total of 249 burn casualties. They were all male combat soldiers and their mean age was 22 years. Most of the burn injuries were combined with other injuries, only 12% were defined as in shock state, and 14% received whole blood in the field. The burn degree was second and third degree for most cases. A third (34%) of burn injured soldiers had surgery (Table 2), and half of the total were sent to rehabilitation departments following their initial hospitalization. An analysis of total body surface area (TBSA)% affected by burns among SOI War casualties reveals a higher proportion of severe burns exceeding 20% TBSA, compared to previous conflicts. Additionally, a higher proportion of personnel suffered from second and third degree burns. This is likely attributed to the operational mode of the IDF in Gaza, where urban close-contact warfare exposes soldiers to heightened risks of explosive and blast injuries. A significant percentage of live casualties had TBSA percentages that were not life-threatening, which underscores the importance of updating emergency burn treatment protocols and employing rapid evacuation and medical response systems in the field. Most of the wounded that suffer from significant burns had other significant and life-threatening injuries, making the appropriate protective measures and the preparation for rapid evacuation the best way to improve burn casualty survival. The significance of this research lies in the timely analysis of accumulated combat data to derive lessons and conclusions relevant to ongoing and future conflicts, and to understand the clinical implications arising from combat situations. Given the relatively high prevalence of burn injuries, understanding their etiology, severity, and consequences is essential for developing effective prevention and treatment courses.

Spesolimab decreases generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) body surface area (BSA) over time in patients switching from conventional systemic treatments: Results from the EFFISAYIL® 2 trial

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a chronic inflammatory, potentially life-threatening skin disease. Most patients experience chronic skin symptoms between flares which can lead to significant patient burden. Spesolimab, an anti-interleukin-36 receptor monoclonal antibody, is approved in the United States to treat GPP in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older and weighing at least 40 kg. EFFISAYIL® 2 (NCT04399837) evaluated the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous (SC) spesolimab in GPP. Here, we report the effects on GPP body surface area (BSA) over time in patients switched from a small-molecule systemic therapy at randomization when treated with the FDA approved spesolimab dosing regimen (600 mg loading dose, then 300 mg maintenance dose every 4 weeks) in EFFISAYIL® 2. Total BSA was determined based on a weighted average of the extent of involvement over 4 main body regions, with head = 10%, upper extremities = 20%, trunk = 30%, and lower extremities = 40%. Total BSA involvement was calculated for each subject at 4 timepoints (baseline, Week 4, Week 16, and Week 48). Data collected closest to the given time points were used by including the effect of potential intravenous spesolimab treatment and subsequent open-label SC spesolimab treatment in patients who experienced a flare. The data were analyzed as observed. Within the FDA approved spesolimab regimen group, the average BSA for patients who stopped a systemic medication for GPP (Total N=22; acitretin = 13, cyclosporine = 7, methotrexate = 1, acitretin/methotrexate = 1) was 11.1 at baseline, decreasing to 8.2 at Week 4, 6.4 at Week 16, and then ending at 3.6 at Week 48. Total BSA involvement decreased over the 48 weeks of the trial in spesolimab-treated patients who stopped an off-label systemic medication for GPP at randomization.

Spesolimab decreases generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) body surface area (BSA) over time in patients with various lengths of disease history: Results from the EFFISAYIL® 2 trial

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a chronic inflammatory, potentially life-threatening skin disease. Most patients experience chronic skin symptoms between flares which can lead to significant patient burden. Spesolimab, an anti-interleukin-36 receptor monoclonal antibody, is approved in the United States to treat GPP in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older and weighing at least 40 kg. EFFISAYIL® 2 (NCT04399837) evaluated the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous (SC) spesolimab in GPP. Here, we report the effects on GPP body surface area (BSA) over time in patients diagnosed <5 vs ≥5 years prior to enrollment when treated with the FDA approved spesolimab dosing regimen (600 mg loading dose, then 300 mg maintenance dose every 4 weeks) in EFFISAYIL® 2. Total BSA was determined based on a weighted average of the extent of involvement over 4 main body regions, with head = 10%, upper extremities = 20%, trunk = 30%, and lower extremities = 40%. Total BSA involvement was calculated for each subject at 4 timepoints (baseline, Week 4, Week 16, and Week 48). Data collected closest to the given time points were used by including the effect of potential intravenous spesolimab treatment and subsequent open-label SC spesolimab treatment in patients who experienced a flare. The data were analyzed as observed. Within the FDA approved regimen spesolimab group, average BSA for patients diagnosed with GPP for <5 years (N=13) was 14.7 at baseline, 15.0 at Week 4, then decreasing to 11.7 at Week 16, and then to 5.0 at Week 48. For patients diagnosed with GPP for ≥ 5 years (N=17) the values were 12.3 at baseline, decreasing to 7.0 at Week 4, increasing slightly to 7.6 at Week 16, and decreasing to 4.1 at Week 48. Total BSA involvement decreased over the 48 weeks of the trial in spesolimab-treated patients regardless of whether they were early (< 5 years) or late (≥ 5 years) in their disease course. This finding demonstrates the efficacy of spesolimab in controlling GPP consistently for patients with various lengths of disease history.

Efficacy of Deucravacitinib in Plaque Psoriasis Across a Range of Body Surface Area Involvement: Post hoc Analysis of the Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 3b/4 PSORIATYK SCALP Trial

Introduction: Deucravacitinib, an oral, selective, allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor, is approved in the US, EU, and other countries for treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy. Scalp involvement affects approximately 80% of patients with plaque psoriasis. PSORIATYK SCALP (NCT05478499) is an ongoing, 52-week, multicenter, phase 3b/4 trial evaluating deucravacitinib in patients with moderate to severe scalp psoriasis, including those with a range of total body surface area (BSA) involvement (≥3%). These patients are candidates for systemic therapy, according to the AAD/NPF and IPC treatment guidelines. This post hoc analysis assessed efficacy in overall body psoriasis. Methods: Adults (age ≥18 years) with moderate to severe scalp psoriasis (scalp-specific Physician Global Assessment [PGA] ≥3, scalp surface area involvement ≥20%, and Psoriasis Scalp Severity Index ≥12 at baseline) and BSA involvement ≥3% were eligible for inclusion. Patients were randomized 1:2 to oral placebo (n=51) or deucravacitinib 6 mg once daily (n=103) through Week 16. Stratification factors included prior biologic use and body weight. Outcomes at Week 16 included static PGA score of 0 (clear) or 1 (almost clear) (sPGA 0/1), change from baseline in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and change from baseline in whole-body itch numeric rating scale (NRS). Nonresponder imputation (binary outcomes) and modified baseline observation carried forward (continuous outcomes) were used for patients with missing data. All P values are nominal. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups (deucravacitinib: mean [SD], BSA 10.5% [9.6%], PASI 10.2 [6.7], whole-body itch NRS 5.8 [2.8]; placebo: mean [SD], BSA 10.0% [8.1%], PASI 9.4 [5.6], whole-body itch NRS 5.8 [2.4]). Baseline total BSA involvement was 3%-10% in most patients (deucravacitinib, 68.0%; placebo, 74.5%). At Week 16, a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving deucravacitinib versus placebo achieved sPGA 0/1 (47.6% [95% CI, 37.6%-57.6%] vs 3.9% [0.5%-13.5%], respectively; P<0.0001). Similarly, patients treated with deucravacitinib achieved greater decreases in adjusted mean change from baseline in PASI (−6.4 [95% CI, −7.3 to −5.5] vs −1.3 [−2.6 to −0.1]; P<0.0001) and whole-body itch NRS (−2.9 [−3.4 to −2.4] vs −0.4 [−1.1 to 0.3]; P<0.0001). Conclusion: In the phase 3b/4 PSORIATYK SCALP trial, deucravacitinib was efficacious in improving overall psoriasis. Efficacy was consistent with the results observed in the phase 3 POETYK PSO-1/PSO-2 trials, despite including patients with less extensive total BSA involvement.

Electrical burns in train climbers treated in the Helsinki Burn Centre during the last 30years.

Patients who climb onto the roof of a stationary train carriage and sustain a high voltage electrical injury from the overhead cables represent a rare type of electrical injury. The aim of this study was to review all the electrical burns and their outcomes in train climbers treated in the Helsinki Burn Centre during the last three decades. 18 patients who had climbed onto the roof of a stationary electric train between November 1993 and December 2022 were included. Trauma- and outcome-related variables were collected. The primary outcome endpoints were in-hospital mortality and major amputations. 16 (88.9%) patients were male. The median age was 15.5years (range: 13-29years). All the burns were high-voltage electrical burns. The mean burn size was 45% of the total body surface area. Three (16.7%) patients died in hospital. The mean length of the Burn Centre stay was 50days. On average, the patients underwent 5 operations (range: 0-32) during their inpatient stay. Three patients required major amputation. Eight of the patients underwent late operations. Seven (38.9%) patients exhibited late neurological dysfunction or neuropsychological symptoms at long term follow-up. In conclusion, train climbers represent a rare group of young patients with electrical burns. Precautionary strategies should be implemented to prevent these injuries that are associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Quality of Life Assessment Four Years after a More than Ninety Percent Total Body Surface Area in Two Survivors with Burns: Case Report.

There are few reports in the literature detailing the Quality of Life (QOL) of survivors with greater than 90% total body surface area (TBSA) burns. The objective was to assess two such individuals seen at our center with the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B) survey four years after discharge. Subject responses were categorized into their respective BSHS-B health domains (heat sensitivity, affect, hand function, treatment regimens, work, sexuality, interpersonal relationships, simple abilities, and body image) and a raw score was calculated for each domain. Lower scores indicated a greater perceived decrease in QOL. The nine domains of BSHS-B survey questions were further separated into three categories: physical (hand function, work, simple abilities), treatment (treatment regimens and heat sensitivity), and psychosocial (interpersonal relationships, affect, body image, sexuality). The psychosocial category had higher scores and better outcomes, while the physical and treatment ones had lower scores and worse outcomes compared to the other categories. For both individuals, interpersonal relationships and simple tasks domains were considered important in their QOL, while work, heat sensitivity and hand function received lower scores. Family support, intense physical rehabilitation, and psychosocial management were crucial during the postoperative and follow-up periods.

Management considerations in grease versus non-grease scald burns in adults: A retrospective cohort study at a tertiary burn care facility

IntroductionScald burns are challenging to manage due to their evolutionary nature and nuanced injury pattern. Different mediums, such as hot water, steam, or grease, each have unique physical properties that may inflict more damage and incite a different inflammatory response. While pediatric patients are often the focus of scald burn research, a significant number of adults still suffer from scald burns, especially while cooking with hot grease. Our study aimed to analyze differences in injury pattern and management between grease versus non-grease scald burns. Materials and MethodsA retrospective chart review was done on all scald burn patients at a tertiary burn care center from January 2020 to December 2022. The primary outcomes were admission and length of stay with the primary exposure being grease versus non-grease scald burns. Secondary outcomes included rates of surgical excision and changes in surgical management plans. Multivariate regressions were employed to control for sex, age, total body surface area (TBSA), and burn thickness. ResultsOf 165 patients with scald burns, 41 out of 91 (45.1 %) with grease burns and 43 out of 74 (58.1 %) with non-grease burns were admitted. No statistically significant difference in length of hospital stay existed between admitted grease and non-grease burns (p = 0.45). Additionally, no differences were observed for surgical excision (p = 0.63) and changes in surgical management plans (p = 0.47) ConclusionThe mechanism of scald burn caused by either a grease or non-grease source is not associated with any differences in admission, length of hospital stay, or surgical management. Scald burn management should still focus on patient age, TBSA, and burn thickness regardless of the causative agent.

Skin graft take rate among minor burns – A cohort study to investigate the effect of factors such as burn depth, burn size, and timing of the operation

BackgroundIt has been known for decades that early excision of burns reduces morbidity and mortality. Early surgical excision and skin grafting has become the most important part of successful healing in burn management, especially in major burns. However it is not entirely clear whether early excision and skin transplantation has the same advantages in smaller burns and there is no consensus on the timing of skin grafting in this group. The aim was to investigate the effect of timing and other factors for skin graft take rate among minor burns. MethodsThis retrospective study included patients with thermal injury, a burn size smaller than 11 % total body surface area (TBSA), and who were treated with a skin graft operation. Take rate at the second dressing change after operation was used as main outcome, a cut-off of 95% take rate was for the multivariable logistic regression. ResultsA total of 195 patients were included, median (IQR) age was 42 (9–68) years, 65 % were male, and median (IQR) area of deep burns was 2 (1–4) % of the body surface area (BSA). Multivariable regression showed that smaller area of deep burns and scalds (compared with flame and contact burns) were associated with a take rate of ≥ 95 %. Age, timing of the skin graft transplantation, and plasma C-reactive protein showed no independent effect on take rate. The regression model was significant but weak (ROC AUC 0.71, 95 % CI 0.62–0.79). ConclusionOur results suggest that the extent and depth of the burn are the most important factors for skin graft take rate among minor burns, while timing of the transplantation is not associated with take rate for the skin graft. The advantageous effect of scalds may be interpreted to mean that scalds in general are more superficial than flame and contact burns, a difference that may not be detected by the use of a Lund and Browder chart. The conclusion is, however, tempered by the retrospective study design and the relatively low discriminatory power in our study.

Risk Factors for ARDS in Hospitalized Burn Patients: An Analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a common complication among mechanically ventilated adult burn patients; however, the risk factors associated with its development are not well understood. Conflicting evidence also exists regarding ARDS as an independent predictor of poor hospital outcomes. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors for ARDS in mechanically ventilated adult burn patients and characterize the impact of ARDS on hospital course. The National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) was queried for patients >=18 years with International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes corresponding to burn injury from 2007-2016. Hospitalized patients with at least 48 hours of mechanical ventilation were included. Multivariate logistic regression were used to identify risk factors for ARDS. Propensity score-matched analysis at a 1:3 ratio was used to determine the impact of ARDS on hospital course. This sample included 13928 patients, of which 1437 (10.3%) developed ARDS. Hypotension in the Emergency Department, alcohol use disorder, total body surface area (TBSA), Injury Severity Score (ISS), and inhalation injury were independently associated with ARDS. In the propensity score-matched cohort, ARDS patients had a significantly longer median (interquartile range) length of stay (31 [15-54] vs. 22 [9-43], p<0.001). In-hospital mortality was also significantly higher in the ARDS cohort (203 [35%] vs. 325 [24%], p<0.001). These findings highlight the impact of patient and injury characteristics on developing ARDS and support the consideration of ARDS when estimating mortality risk in burn patients.

Pediatric burn injury at home in 30 years: A road to future prevention

IntroductionInjury prevention is valuable for pediatric burns at home. To develop future target of prevention, we aimed to elucidate characteristics and chronological changes of pediatric burn injuries at home in urban areas. Patients and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective observational study using the database of the Tokyo Burn Unit Association, which comprises 14 tertiary burn centers, the Tokyo Fire Department, Tokyo Medical Association, and the Tokyo city government. We included pediatric patients aged ≤15 years who had a burn injury at home in the last 30 years and divided them into five groups at 6-year intervals. We compared the mechanism, severity, and outcome of burn injuries between the groups. ResultsWe included 1092 pediatric patients, with no significant chronological changes in the incidence of burn injuries at home (approximately 200 patients in each 6-year period). The median age was 1 year in all the groups. Flame burns decreased from 7.7% to 1.6%, whereas scald burns remained at >80%. The burn area decreased from 10 (5–16) %total body surface area (%TBSA) to 7 (3–11) %TBSA. The length of hospital stay was reduced from 6 to 2 days, and in-hospital mortality was 0.4%–0.5% in the last decade. ConclusionsThe incidence of flame burns and burn area decreased over time with improving clinical outcomes in pediatric burns. The number of scald burns remained the same over time; thus, further social intervention is needed to prevent scald burns.

Identification and quantification of physical activity in critically ill burn patients: a feasibility study

BackgroundPhysical activity is essential in burn care to counteract the effects of severe burns and inactivity during hospitalization. However, detailed knowledge of performed physical activities is lacking. This study evaluated the feasibility of a dual accelerometer-based method to assess type, frequency, and duration of physical activity in critically ill burn patients during hospitalization. MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted at the burn center of the Martini Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands. Eligible were patients with a total body surface area (TBSA) burned of ≥15% or an indication for intensive care. Patients wore two accelerometers, one on the chest and one on the diagonally opposite thigh. An algorithm converted accelerometer data into type, frequency, and duration of activities common for intensive care patients. An activity diary was used to assess non-wear time and its content, e.g., surgery. ResultsFive patients (20-60 years, 13-31% TBSA burned, LOS 30-65 days) were included. Per patient, 14-49 days (17380-61796min) could be analyzed of which 7%-14% was non-wear time. During wear-time, 86-95% of activities could be identified and quantified. However, processing the data was a labor-intensive process. ConclusionThe dual accelerometer-based method proved feasible for research purposes. For clinical application, further refinement of data-processing is required.

Prediction of First-in-Human Dose of Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T (CAR-T) Cells from Mice.

In this study, six scaling methods were evaluated for the prediction of FIH dose for CAR-T cells. The methods were body weight-based fixed exponents such as 1.0 and 0.75, human equivalent dose (HED) using exponents 0.33, two modified HED methods such as using total animal dose (in place of per kg basis) and body surface area in place of body weight using total animal dose with exponent 0.33 and a physiological factor derived from physiological parameters. The FIH doses of six CAR-T cells were predicted in this study. The predicted human doses were compared with the recommended human dose by the US-FDA for four CAR-T cell products, and the literature data were used for the remaining two CAR-T cells. The results indicated that the two modified HED methods and physiological factor are the best and reliable methods for the prediction of FIH dose for CAR-T cells. The proposed methods are simple and accurate in their predictive power and can be used on a spreadsheet.

Continuous peripheral nerve blocks for burn management: a retrospective study of outcomes and complications in 281 burn patients.

There is scarce literature regarding the use of continuous peripheral nerve blocks in acute burn patients, who may be at higher risk for catheter-related complications, including infection. We sought to describe our center's experience and infection rate with continuous perineural catheters in the setting of pain management for patients suffering from burns. A retrospective observational study was performed including all patients admitted to an American Burn Association-verified regional burn center between January 2018 and July 2023 who received a continuous peripheral nerve block for an acute burn injury. There were 281 patients in the study cohort who received 484 perineural catheters. The cohort was 52% men with a median age of 39 years (IQR 30-55). A catheter-associated infection, defined as a clinical diagnosis by the treating physicians requiring the need for treatment with antibiotics or surgical debridement, was identified in six perineural catheters (1.2%, 95% CI 0% to 2.2%) involving six different patients (2.1%, 95% CI 0% to 3.8%). The median total body surface area burned was 5% (IQR 2-9%) and 20% of patients had full-thickness burns. The most commonly used catheters were infraclavicular (49%), popliteal sciatic (29%), femoral (19%), and adductor canal (17%). One-third (33%) of patients did not require operating room debridement as the block provided sufficient analgesia for bedside debridement. The median duration of catheter use was 6 days (IQR 4-8). There were no documented cases of nerve injury or toxicity, vascular injury, or local anesthetic systemic toxicity. In our practice, continuous perineural catheters in the setting of acute burns are associated with an infection rate comparable to other surgical populations.

Cyclosporin for the treatment of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN): a systematic review of observational studies and clinical trials focusing on single therapy, combination therapy, and comparative assessments.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare, severe, and potentially life-threatening skin and mucous membrane disorders. They are characterized by widespread skin and mucosal detachment and necrosis, and are classified based on the percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) affected. Given the severe and often life-threatening nature of these conditions, the identification and implementation of effective treatments is crucial. Notably, cyclosporin has demonstrated efficacy in managing these challenging conditions. A systematic search was carried out through the PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases until May 2024. Additionally, a manual search was conducted through the reference lists of the included studies to minimize the risk of missing reports. Overall, 17 studies involving 4761 patients were included in our analysis. The majority of the included studies suggested favorable outcomes for the use of cyclosporin in SJS/TEN patients. The use of cyclosporin was associated with improved survival rates, early arrest of disease progression, faster re-epithelialization, reduced length of hospital stays, and lower rates of multi-organ failure. However, a few studies did not find a survival advantage with cyclosporin and even reported an increased risk of mortality, as well as an increased TBSA detachment and risk of infection. Most studies indicate positive outcomes with cyclosporin treatment in SJS/TEN patients. This is likely due to cyclosporin's immunomodulatory properties, which may help attenuate the severe inflammatory response associated with these conditions.

Pediatric Burn Care for Burn Injury: Outcomes by Timing of Referral Using a U.S. Single-Center Retrospective Cohort, 2005-2019.

Burn centers offer specialized care to pediatric patients with burn injuries. However, data about outcome in relation to timing of transfer are limited. We examined these timings and outcomes among burn-injured pediatric patients. Single-center, retrospective cohort study of U.S. national and international practice. Shriners ESO Trauma Burn Registry, 2005-2019. Patients 0-17 years old admitted to a pediatric burn center with 10-80% total body surface area (TBSA) burn between 2005 and 2019. None. The cohort of 761 patients was subcategorized according to timing of referral: early presentation (EP) (0-7 d), delayed presentation (DP) (8-60 d), and very delayed presentation (VDP) (> 60 d). Primary outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS, percent TBSA (%TBSA)/LOS ratio, mortality, and disposition. Dichotomous outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression and continuous outcomes were compared using median regression, both utilizing multivariable analysis adjusting for a priori confounders and presented as adjusted coefficients (ACs) with 95% CI. Delayed referral (DP and VDP) was associated with higher %TBSA burn and with fewer referrals from high-income countries. Compared with EP, VDP was associated with higher LOS/%TBSA (AC, 0.2 [0.01-0.4]). On univariate analysis, in comparison with EP, DP and VDP were associated with higher ICU (DP 16 [6-29]; VDP 8 [0-18]) and hospital LOS (DP 34 [21-55]; VDP 32 [18-58]). Overall, ten of 761 patients died (1.3%), and we found no association between timing of referral and mortality. Also, in 751 survivors, 635 patients (84.6%) were discharged home without home health, and we found no association with timing of referral on multivariable analysis. In this report, we have reviewed our single-center, international burn-injured pediatric cohort, operating in the United States (2005-2019). We find that referral with VDP as opposed to EP was associated with increased LOS/%TBSA.

Comparative Analysis of Burn Injuries in Toddler and Preschool Children: Implications for Triage and Outcome Assessment.

This study aims to compare the demographic, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of burn injuries in toddler and preschool children, and to validate the American Burn Association (ABA) Burn Triage Decision Matrix in the Turkish pediatric population. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 684 pediatric burn patients (494 toddlers, 190 preschoolers) admitted to our burn center over a 5-year period. Variables including gender, burn etiology, burn area, depth, treatment modalities, complications, length of hospital stay, and mortality were analyzed. The performance of the ABA Burn Triage Decision Matrix was evaluated in both groups. Scalding was the predominant cause of burns in both groups, with a significant difference in the involvement of anterior trunk (p = 0.027). The mean Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) was comparable between the groups (p = 0.286). There was no significant difference in mortality rates (p = 0.385), treatment modalities, and complications. The ABA Burn Triage Decision Matrix demonstrated consistency in triaging the severity of burn injuries, with a notable discrepancy observed in the moderate risk category of toddler group. This study highlights the distinct characteristics and outcomes of burn injuries in different pediatric age groups. The ABA Burn Triage Decision Matrix's validation suggests its utility in enhancing triage accuracy and resource allocation in pediatric populations, especially in disaster-prone regions.

Rare but Relevant: Characterizing Self-Inflicted Burn Injuries in the United States.

Self-inflicted burns (SIBs) represent a distinct entity in burn care often associated with an underlying psychiatric etiology. In this review, we summarize the existing evidence on SIBs in North America to inform targeted prevention and interventions for patients afflicted with SIBs. The following databases were queried to identify relevant articles used for literature review: PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. The main outcome measures were burn characteristics and risk factors of SIBs in the American population. A total of 14,189 patients were included across 13 included studies. The percent of total body surface area burned ranged from less than one to 100%, with a mean of 29.6 +/- 20.7%. Depressive disorders were the most reported overall; however, among mood disorders, bipolar disorder was also reported frequently, while anxiety was reported least. Motives for self-inflicting burn injury included premeditated self-injury as a coping mechanism, escape or response to delusions, impulsive self-injury, and most commonly, suicidal intention. The majority of the studies reported that pre-admission drug and alcohol abuse were associated with the occurrence of SIBs. Other identified risk factors for SIB injury included female sex, younger age, unemployment, and unmarried status. From this, it is imperative that targeted interventions are developed to address the complex interplay of psychiatric disorders, drug use, and other demographic risk factors among the American population. It is crucial for initiatives to emphasize early identification of individuals at-risk of self-harm, better access to mental health services, and stronger drug abuse programs to target SIB occurrence in the U.S..

Impact of a newly implemented burn protocol at Tri-Service General Hospital: Outcome analysis of 20-year experience

PurposeTo share our 20-year experience in major burn management and the impact of a newly implemented burn protocol since 2015 at Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH). Materials and methodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of severely burned patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at TSGH from January 2003 to September 2023. Data regarding demographics, complications, and mortality were collected and analyzed. We compared the patient data before (pre-implementation) and after 2015 (post-implementation), when the new major burn management protocol was introduced. ResultsNo statistically significant differences were observed in the mean total body surface area of the burns between the groups. The post-implementation group had younger age (34.62 vs 45.06, P < 0.001) and lower rate of inhalation injury (60.8 % vs 82.5 %, P = 0.005). No statistically significant difference was observed in the ICU stays between the groups. The post-implementation group had a statistically significant lower all-cause mortality (8.1 % vs 47.6 %, P < 0.0001) and lower rate of renal replacement therapy (RRT) (20.3 % vs 42.9 %, P = 0.004) but earlier initiation of RRT. ConclusionThe new TSGH Burns Protocol revolutionized the care of major burns by introducing tailored, multidisciplinary burn management and improved patient outcomes.

Effect of Pilates exercises on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and functional capacity in patients with inhalation injury after flame thermal burn: A prospective randomized controlled trial

BackgroundInhalation injury is an acute respiratory tract injury that occurrs by inhalation of smoke, toxic gases, or steam. Early management is needed to reduce its mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether Pilates training could help burn patients with inhalation injury after flame thermal burn in increasing pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and functional ability. MethodsIn this prospective, randomized, controlled trial, sixty participants (26 males and 34 females) with inhalation injury and deep partial-thickness flame burns of 30–40 % total body surface area (TBSA) were randomized in blocks of four, with a 1:1 allocation ratio into two groups: Group A (Pilates Group); received Pilates training plus conventional physical therapy program, and Group B (Control Group); received conventional physical therapy program only. This study was conducted at the Faculty of Physical Therapy's outpatient clinic, Cairo University, 3 sessions/week for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the forced vital capacity (FVC) measured by a spirometer, while the secondary outcome measures were peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC% assessed by a spirometer, strength of respiratory muscles (maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) assessed by the digital manovacuometer, and the functional capacity evaluated by 6-Minute Walk Test (6-MWT). ResultsA two-way mixed-design MANOVA was used to analyze the results within and between groups. There were no significant differences in demographic data between groups (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in all variables after treatment in group A compared with group B; FVC (95 % CI: 0.38, 1.13) (P = 0.001), FEV1 (95 % CI: 0.39, 0.97) (P = 0.001), FEV1/FVC % (95 % CI: 1.90, 17.19) (P = 0.02), PEFR (95 % CI: 0.47, 0.99) (P = 0.001), MIP (95 % CI: 5.12, 11.44) (P = 0.001), MEP (95 % CI: 2.57, 8.24) (P = 0.001), 6-MWT (95 % CI: 27.22, 54.96) (P = 0.001), FVC (% predicted) (95 % CI: 3.58, 12.58) (P = 0.001), FEV1 (% predicted) (95 % CI: 1.21, 11.11) (P = 0.02), PEFR (% predicted) (95 % CI: 1.33, 10.83) (P = 0.01), MIP (% predicted) (95 % CI: 2.26, 11.72) (P = 0.001) and MEP (% predicted) (95 % CI: 1.33, 10.37) (P = 0.01). ConclusionThe current study demonstrated that a Pilates exercise program in addition to a traditional physical therapy program for 12 weeks significantly improved the pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, PEFR and FEV1/FEV), strength of respiratory muscles (MIP and MEP), and functional capacity (6-MWT) in patients with inhalation injury after flame burns. These results underscore the importance of including Pilates exercises in the rehabilitation plan for burn patients with inhalation injury. Future studies are needed to evaluate the effect of Pilates exercises on other degrees and TBSA of burn, long-term follow up, and to measure cardiopulmonary parameters.