Acute burns

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Describe the pathophysiology of burn injury. 2. Identify patient criteria for transfer to a burn center. 3. Calculate burn size and resuscitation requirements. 4. Treat inhalation injury in the acute setting. 5. Describe treatment options for burn injuries. 6. Describe preoperative selection, intraoperative procedures, and postoperative protocols for patients who require surgical care for their burn injuries. 7. Understand the survival and functional outcomes of burn injury. SUMMARY: The review article summarizes basic issues in the treatment of acute burn injury as practiced in 2008. The pathophysiology, treatment options, and expected outcomes for an acute burn are described and discussed. Special attention is directed to the nonoperative and surgical management of small to moderate-size burns that might be treated by the practicing plastic surgeon.     

Acute burn care

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: After studying this article and accompanying Supplemental Digital Content, the participant should be able to: 1. Explain current burn-prevention strategies and criteria for referral to a burn center. 2. Summarize the current advances made in the critical care of acute burn patients. 3. Outline the recent developments in burn depth assessment and burn wound dressing technology. 4. Describe the common psychosocial aspects of postburn rehabilitation. SUMMARY: Burn patients require interdisciplinary care in which the plastic surgeon plays a prominent role. Appropriate referral, assessment, treatment, and posttreatment supports are essential to achieving favorable outcomes following burn injury. The authors reviewed the current literature on epidemiology, prevention, referral criteria, critical care, wound assessment, wound dressings, and psychosocial aspects of burn injury. Recent advances in burn care are highlighted and have been made possible through ongoing collaborative epidemiologic, clinical, and basic biomedical research. A systematic interdisciplinary approach to the evaluation and treatment of acute burn injuries is pivotal to providing patients with the greatest chance of functional recovery. Plastic surgeons treating burn patients must remain current in a wide variety of areas, ranging from critical care to psychosocial rehabilitation.     

Antifungal Pharmacokinetics and Dosing Considerations in Burn Patients

Patients with burn injuries are at high risk of developing invasive fungal infections leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Burn patients undergo major physiologic changes, which produce significant alterations in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antimicrobial agents. These changes result from the breakdown of the body’s natural barriers to infection and the systemic responses that subsequently ensue after burn injury, including systemic inflammatory responses, third spacing, and development of a hypermetabolic state. Severe burn injuries often lead to larger volumes of distribution and increased drug clearance. Limited data are available to guide the clinician in optimizing the dosing regimen of antifungals in patients with burn injuries. We present a review of antifungal pharmacokinetics and describe how these properties can be used to design rational therapeutic regimens tailored to the pharmacodynamic alterations characteristic of burn patients.     

Bicycle spoke injuries in the lower extremity

This study reports the authors' 5-year experience with treating lower extremity injuries in bicycle passengers caused by the spokes. This patient group was selected from 716 lower extremity injuries that received treatment at our outpatient plastic surgery clinic. A total of 26 patients were treated during the study. Patients ranged from 2 to 19 years old, with a mean age of 5.6 years. The authors treated more female passengers (62 percent) than male passengers. The right foot (52 percent) was involved more often than was the left. Most patients were injured in the afternoon, from 2 to 7 PM (62 percent), and between May and October (77 percent). The rear wheel (89 percent) injured the majority of patients. The Achilles tendon was the most common site of injury (63 percent). The typical types of wounds observed included the following: type I, laceration with partial avulsion of skin and subcutaneous tissue (41 percent) and laceration forming a distally based flap (33 percent); type II, abrasions with ecchymoses and friction burn from the shearing effect of the spokes creating a partial- to full-thickness skin defect (26 percent). Of the type I injuries, full-thickness skin lacerations (33 percent) were closed primarily. Partial-thickness skin lacerations, abrasions, ecchymoses, and skin defects (67 percent) were treated conservatively with wound irrigation and dressing. The wound healing time for type I injuries was 29 days; for type II injuries, it was 27 days. These healing times were prolonged compared with healing by first intention. No significant difference was found in healing time when comparing both types of injury. Four patients required hospitalization. No patient required skin grafting. No fractures were noted because these patients were selected from the outpatient plastic surgery clinic and did not include patients from the emergency room. Since the first report of bicycle spoke injuries a half-century ago, prevention has not improved.     

The impact of burn injury and ethanol on the cytokine network of the mouse hypothalamus: reproductive implications

Nearly 50% of the patients admitted to hospitals for burn injuries have detectable levels of alcohol (EtOH) in their circulation. In fact, EtOH is often a causal factor in their injury. It is well known that EtOH as well as burn injury disrupt function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. The cellular mechanisms by which EtOH and/or burn impacts on the HPG are not entirely understood. In the studies reported here, we tested the hypothesis that these injuries mediated their effects by local hypothalamic inflammation. Young adult male mice were subjected to either a 15% total body surface area, full thickness scald, to EtOH, or to both and compared to appropriate controls. They were sacrificed 48 h later. EtOH and burn, as well as the combined injury, consistently and impressively reduced serum testosterone, while increasing hypothalamic concentrations of all three of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNFalpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6. In general, the increases induced by burn were greater than those caused by EtOH and the effect of the combined insult was not additive. Hypothalamic concentrations of LHRH were also increased. The data are consistent with the idea that EtOH and/or burn, as models of critical illness, medicate their hypothalamic suppressive effects via increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines.     

Reconstruction of the burned hand

This article summarizes the initial management of acute burn injuries to the hand, in addition to treatment and reconstructive options. The goal of treatment for a burn injury to the hand is primarily a functional hand. This is best achieved by appropriate early treatment, the right selection from a wide range of possible reconstructive procedures, and focused occupational hand therapy.     

早期整形手术在深Ⅱ度烧伤患者治疗中的作用

为了探讨早期整形外科手术治疗对深Ⅱ度烧伤创面愈合后瘢痕挛缩畸形及功能障碍的影响,本研究选择深Ⅱ度烧伤患者60例作为研究对象,对患者进行早期功能性部位整形手术,其中研究组34例,对照组26例。对照组患者使用常规治疗和功能锻炼;研究组在对照组的基础上,使用瘢痕组织切除术、中厚皮肤移植术和术后功能锻炼,比较2组治疗后疗效的差异。研究结果表明,研究组34例烧伤患者接受整形手术后,各部位平均植皮成活率均达90%以上。术后第3个月和半年2组关节功能恢复效果不显著。研究组患者术后1年的关节功能恢复和疗效均显著优于对照组(p<0.05)。初步结论表明,研究组总有效率(100%)显著高于对照组(81.25%, p<0.05)。深Ⅱ度烧伤患者创面愈合后进行早期功能部位整形手术治疗能有效改善患处瘢痕挛缩导致的关节功能障碍。     

The use of human deceased donor skin allograft in burn care

Burns are tissue wounds caused by thermal, electrical, chemical cold or radiation injuries. Deep injuries lead to dermal damage that impairs the ability of the skin to heal and regenerate on its own. Skin autografting following burn excision is considered the current gold standard of care, but lack of patient’s own donor skin or unsuitability of the wound for autografting may require the temporary use of dressings or skin substitutes to promote wound healing, reduce pain, and prevent infection and abnormal scarring. These alternatives include deceased donor skin allograft, xenograft, cultured epithelial cells and biosynthetic skin substitutes. Allotransplantation is the transplantation of cells, tissues, or organs, sourced from a genetically non-identical member of the same species as the recipient. Human deceased donor skin allografts represent a suitable and much used temporizing option for skin cover following burn injury. The main advantages for its use include dermoprotection and promotion of reepithelialisation of the wound and their ability to act as skin cover until autografting is possible or re-harvesting of donor sites becomes available. Disadvantages of its use include the limited abundance and availability of donors, possible transmission of disease, the eventual rejection by the host and its handling storing, transporting and associated costs of provision. This paper will explore the role of allograft skin in burn care, defining the indications for its use in burn management and the future potential for allograft tissue banking.     

Lack of Th17 cell generation in patients with severe burn injuries

Immunodeficient patients with severe burn injuries are extremely susceptible to infection with Candida albicans. In addition to Th1 cells, IL-17-producing CD4(+) T cells (Th17 cells) have recently been described as an important effector cell in host anti-Candida resistance. In this study, therefore, we tried to induce Th17 cells in cultures of severely burned patient PBMC by stimulation with the C. albicans Ag (CAg). In the results, the biomarkers for Th17 cells (IL-17 production and intracellular expression of IL-17 and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt) were not displayed by burn patient PBMC stimulated with CAg, whereas these biomarkers of Th17 cells were detected in cultures of healthy donor PBMC stimulated with CAg. Burn patient sera were shown to be inhibitory on CAg-stimulated Th17 cell generation in healthy donor PBMC cultures; however, Th17 cells were induced by CAg in healthy donor PBMC cultures supplemented with burn patient sera that were previously treated with anti-IL-10 mAb. Also, the biomarkers of Th17 cells were not induced by CAg in healthy donor PBMC cultures supplemented with rIL-10. IL-10 was detected in serum specimens derived from severely burned patients. These results indicate that Th17 cells are not generated in burn patient PBMC cultures supplemented with CAg. IL-10, produced in response to burn injuries, is shown to be inhibitory on Th17 cell generation. The high susceptibility of severely burned patients to C. albicans infection might be influenced if burn-associated IL-10 production is intervened.     

The biochemistry of blister fluid from pediatric burn injuries: proteomics and metabolomics aspects

Burn injury is a prevalent and traumatic event for pediatric patients. At present, the diagnosis of burn injury severity is subjective and lacks a clinically relevant quantitative measure. This is due in part to a lack of knowledge surrounding the biochemistry of burn injuries and that of blister fluid. A more complete understanding of the blister fluid biochemistry may open new avenues for diagnostic and prognostic development. Burn insult induces a highly complex network of signaling processes and numerous changes within various biochemical systems, which can ultimately be examined using proteome and metabolome measurements. This review reports on the current understanding of burn wound biochemistry and outlines a technical approach for ‘omics’ profiling of blister fluid from burn wounds of differing severity.     

Repairing Facial Injury with Refining Plastic Surgery Techniques

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the refining plastic surgery techniques for repairing facial surface injury. For this purpose, 82 patients with facial surface injury were recruited in the study. All wounds were repaired by refining plastic surgery techniques. The wounds were processed by fine wound excision and plastic surgery repair technique. The deep tissue fracture and dislocation were sutured and reduced using 8-0 absorbable suture and the skin wounds were sutured using 8-0 cosmetic suture. The facial injuries showed good rates of healing with fine debridement and fine recovering. The minimum scarring was observed and good cosmetic effect was achieved. We conclude that refining plastic surgery techniques including fine debridement and fine recovering are ideal for the reconstruction of facial injuries.     

Mechanical characterisation of human postburn hypertrophic skin during pressure therapy

Postburn hypertrophic scar commonly occurs among the Chinese resulting from serious burn injuries. A non-invasive method of preventing and controlling such scars is using pressure therapy. Its mechanical properties are used as a quantitative indicator for scar assessment and maturation. The non-linear properties of the skin tissue are characterised in this study by a modulus of elasticity and a percentage extension (strain) at load intensities of 20, 40 and 100 g. The latter is a measure of the scar extensibility while the former the scar stiffness. A correlation is obtained between the clinical scar grading and these mechanical properties. Altogether 300 individual measurements were made on fifteen Chinese patients of ages ranging from 18 to 44 with burn injuries of superficial to whole skin thickness burns which necessitated surgical graft procedures. This in vivo study of the mechanical properties of hypertrophic scar tissue lasted 2 yr.     

Psychiatric study of patients with severe burn injuries.

About two-thirds of a consecutive series of patients severely injured with burns followed up one year after discharge were found to have psychological sequelae. Duration of hospital stay and the presence of certain mental illnesses were related to the incidence and severity of psychological symptoms. This relation did not apply to the site of the burn and the existence of a claim for compensation. The incidence of post-traumatic neurosis in patients with burn injuries could be reduced by identifying and treating, soon after the accident, those who need psychiatric help.     

Our Clinical Experience using Cryopreserved Cadaveric Allograft for the Management of Severe Burns

Human cadaveric allograft is the most commonly used alternative wound closure material for excised burn wounds when limited donor sites or the overall patient condition does not permit immediate grafting with autologous skin. The Skin Bank in Singapore has supplied a total of 33,000 cm² of cryopreserved cadaveric allograft to the Burns Centre in Singapore for the early post-burn treatment of 17 severely burned patients with body surface area (BSA) burn wounds averaging 58% (range 33–90). An average of 13% (range 3–30%) cadaveric allograft was transplanted on 17 patients. Seven patients had recovered from their burn injuries and ten patients died of multiple complications related to their burn injuries. Our clinical observation has shown good adherence of cadaveric allograft when applied on clean and debrided wound bed after 4–7 days of post-operation. The availability of cadaveric allograft permits early excision and wound coverage before the patients' condition is further compromised. Our clinical experience using cryopreserved cadaveric allograft is proving to be indispensable in the management of patients with severe burns. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

大鼠铜梳烧伤模型建立方法的改良

目的:改良大鼠铜梳烧伤模型的建立方法,对比不同方法建立的烧伤模型的烧伤间隙区初始面积及坏死程度的差异,探索更加理想的大鼠铜梳烧伤模型的建立方法。方法:48只SD大鼠被随机分为A组(原方法)、B组(改良法1)及C组(改良法2)。将铜梳烧伤器加热后,即刻置于各组大鼠背部中线两侧的皮肤上,A组铜梳接触皮肤时,除自身重力以外,不施加任何压力;B组铜梳接触皮肤时施加压力,使皮肤凹陷约0.5 cm;C组使用铜梳烧伤器嵌合聚乙烯泡沫塑料模型后再接触皮肤,并施加压力,使皮肤凹陷约0.5 cm。测量各组伤后即刻的烧伤间隙区面积;伤后6、12、24、48小时的间隙区组织坏死面积;各个时间点取材后,通过HE染色观察间隙区组织坏死程度并测量坏死深度。结果:伤后即刻C组的烧伤间隙区面积介于A组与B组之间,且与理论值最接近;B组间隙区组织坏死进程最快,伤后24小时已基本坏死。A组坏死进程最慢,间隙区组织基本坏死时间超过48小时。C组间隙区组织基本坏死时间是伤后48小时,与理论上的时间最接近。结论:通过铜梳烧伤器嵌合聚乙烯泡沫塑料模型后再接触皮肤,并施加压力,使皮肤凹陷约0.5 cm,是建立大鼠铜梳烧伤模型更加理想的方法。     

Clinical interest of cutaneous models reproducedin vitro for severe burn treatment: histopathological and ultrastructural study

The healing of minimal skin lesions is usually obtained by epidermal migration and proliferation from peripheral wound margins. However, cutaneous grafts or reconstituted skin are necessary for severe injuries. Various models have recently been reproduced for this purpose. The aim of this work is to report the histopathologic evolution of burn lesions treated two years ago by autologous epidermis (Genzyme Tissue Repair, Boston, USA). Fifteen patients with severe burns (more than 80% of surface) have been treated. These observations have been based exclusively on biopsies of grafted wounds. Cultured epidermis is rapidly fully differentiated after grafting with temporary hyperplasia and normal strata. At 18 months, rete ridges formation is present only in young patients. Melanocytes and Langerhans' cells repopulated grafts rapidly. The use of cultured epidermis nowadays represents an important improvement in burn treatment.Abbreviations CEA cultured epidermal autologous sheets - TBSA total burn surface area     

An earthquake disaster in Turkey: assessment of the need for plastic surgery services in a crisis intervention field hospital

On August 17, 1999, an earthquake of 7.4 magnitude struck Turkey, resulting in the destruction of the cities Golcuk, Izmit, Adapazari, and Yalova. Three days later, the Israel Defense Force Field Hospital arrived at Adapazari, serving as a reinforcement hospital until the rehabilitation of the local medical facilities. Surgical services in the field hospital were supplied by general, orthopedic, and plastic surgeons. The authors evaluated all soft-tissue injuries managed at the hospital and assessed the need for plastic surgery services in a crisis intervention field hospital. Information was gathered regarding soft-tissue injuries throughout the activity of the hospital. In addition, patients' charts, operations' reports, and entry and evacuation logs were reviewed for all patients accepted and treated in the field hospital. Interviews of patients, local physicians, and citizens of Adapazari were performed to evaluate the medical situation in the first 3 days after the earthquake. A total of 1205 patients were treated by the field hospital in Adapazari; 138 (11.45 percent) of these patients sought aid for isolated soft-tissue injuries, 105 of which (76.09 percent) were earthquake-related. Twenty (51.28 percent) of the operations performed in the hospital were to treat soft-tissue injuries; 1.49 percent of all patients underwent minor surgical manipulations by the plastic surgeon on staff. Plastic surgery patients occupied 13.6 percent of the hospital beds. In conclusion, the authors find it beneficial to supply plastic surgery services at a field hospital in an earthquake situation.     

Increases in plasma beta-endorphin and tail flick latency in the rat following burn injury

In children with burn injuries we found, in earlier studies, an inverse association of plasma beta-endorphin immunoactivity (iB-EP) and pain levels. To further explore the effects of burn trauma on the peripheral release of beta-endorphin and the occurrence of centrally mediated stress analgesia, plasma iB-EP levels and tail flick latency (TFL) were measured in rats subjected (while anesthetized) to scald injury. In comparison to sham burn (dip in tepid water), burn injury increased plasma iB-EP and TFL; both the duration and magnitude of these effects were directly proportional to the extent of burns. In rats receiving no treatment, TFLs were unchanged throughout the time of the burn experiments. At 2 days post-burn TFLs were invariably back to pre-burn levels. Administration of the long-acting opioid antagonist naltrexone prior to burn injury prevented the rise in TFL. Thus the trauma of burns appeared to bring about a stress-induced analgesia (SIA). The marked increase in iB-EP during this SIA and its antagonism by naltrexone suggest that it was opioid and hormonal in character.