M.K. Nieuwenhuis

Itching following burns: epidemiology and predictors.

Background  Itching (pruritus) following burns is a well‐known clinical problem. However, there are no long‐term prospective studies that document the course and the extent of the problem. Studies on risk factors are anecdotal.

Clinical effectiveness of dermal substitution in burns by topical negative pressure: A multicenter randomized controlled trial

Previous research has shown clinical effectiveness of dermal substitution; however, in burn wounds, only limited effect has been shown. A problem in burn wounds is the reduced take of the autograft, when the substitute and graft are applied in one procedure. Recently, application of topical negative pressure (TNP) was shown to improve graft take. The aim of this study was to investigate if application of a dermal substitute in combination with TNP improves scar quality after burns. In a four‐armed multicenter randomized controlled trial, a split‐skin graft with or without a dermal substitute and with or without TNP was compared in patients with deep dermal or full‐thickness burns requiring skin transplantation. Graft take and rate of wound epithelialization were evaluated. Three and 12 months postoperatively, scar parameters were measured. The results of 86 patients showed that graft take and epithelialization did not reveal significant differences. Significantly fewer wounds in the TNP group showed postoperative contamination, compared to other groups. Highest elasticity was measured in scars treated with the substitute and TNP, which was significantly better compared to scars treated with the substitute alone. Concluding, this randomized controlled trial shows the effectiveness of dermal substitution combined with TNP in burns, based on extensive wound and scar measurements.

Effect of training in the Emergency Management of Severe Burns on the knowledge and performance of emergency care workers as measured by an online simulated burn incident

OBJECTIVE To determine the value of training for the Emergency Management of Severe Burns (EMSB) for medical and nursing staff working in emergency care as measured by their performance in a simulated burn incident online program. METHODS An Internet-based questionnaire, which included a simulated burn incident, was developed. All of the medical and nursing staff in hospital emergency departments and ambulance services in the Netherlands were invited to complete this questionnaire. The effect of EMSB training on the individuals knowledge of and performance in the emergency management of a burn victim was evaluated because some of the respondents had participated in EMSB training, whereas others had not. RESULTS Of the 280 responses received, 198 questionnaires were included in the analysis. The analyzed questionnaires were submitted by nurses (43%), ambulance workers (33%), and physicians (23%). Only 14% of the people in the study had participated in EMSB training, whereas 78% had received other or additional life support training and 22% of respondents had no additional life support training. Medical and nursing staff who had participated in EMSB training performed better in the following subjects: mentioning hypothermia as a focus of attention (70% versus 53%, p=0.085), correct use of hand size (70% versus 36%, p=0.001) and use of the correct hand percentage in the estimation of total body surface area (TBSA, 82% versus 57%, p=0.015), suspicion of no airway obstruction in an outdoor trauma (93% versus 63%, p = 0.002) and referral of functional area burns to a burn center (22% versus 8%, p = 0.04). However, both groups overestimated the TBSA (34% of the total group overestimated ≥ 20%) and did not know the correct formula for fluid resuscitation (87% of the total group). CONCLUSION There is some evidence that medical staff members who have participated in EMSB training have a better knowledge of emergency management and are more effective in the management of a simulated burn case. However, both individuals who had participated in EMSB as well as those who had not participated in EMSB needed additional training in EMSB.

Physical Fitness in People After Burn Injury: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE To gain insight into the physical fitness of people after burn injury compared with healthy subjects, and to present an overview of the effectiveness of exercise training programs in improving physical fitness in people after burn injury. DATA SOURCES Electronic databases EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched for relevant publications. Additionally, references from retrieved publications were checked. STUDY SELECTION The review includes studies that provide quantitative data from objective measures of physical fitness of both the intervention group and the control group. DATA EXTRACTION Characteristics of each study such as study design, institution, and intervention are reported, as well as mean ages and burn sizes of the subjects. Results are divided into 5 components of physical fitness-muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, cardiorespiratory endurance, and flexibility-and reported for each component separately. DATA SYNTHESIS Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, and their methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro score and a modified Sackett scale. Six studies were used for the comparison of physical fitness in burned and nonburned subjects, and 9 studies for evaluating the effectiveness of exercise training programs. CONCLUSIONS Physical fitness is affected in people with extensive burns, and exercise training programs can bring on relevant improvements in all components. However, because of the great similarities in the subjects and protocols used in the included studies, the current knowledge is incomplete. Future research should include people of all ages with a broad range of burn sizes, for both short-term and long-term outcomes.

A review on static splinting therapy to prevent burn scar contracture: Do clinical and experimental data warrant its clinical application?

BACKGROUND Static splinting therapy is widely considered an essential part in burn rehabilitation to prevent scar contractures in the early phase of wound healing. However, scar contractures are still a common complication. In this article we review the information concerning the incidence of scar contracture, the effectiveness of static splinting therapy in preventing scar contractures, and specifically focus on the - possible - working mechanism of static-splinting, i.e. mechanical load, at the cellular and molecular level of the healing burn wound. METHOD A literature search was done including Pubmed, Cochrane library, CINAHL and PEDRO. RESULTS Incidence of scar contracture in patients with burns varied from 5% to 40%. No strong evidence for the effectiveness of static splinting therapy in preventing scar contracture was found, whereas in vitro and animal studies demonstrated that mechanical tension will stimulate the myofibroblast activity, resulting in the synthesis of new extracellular matrix and the maintenance of their contractile activity. CONCLUSION The effect of mechanical tension on the wound healing process suggests that static splinting therapy may counteract its own purpose. This review stresses the need for randomised controlled clinical trials to establish if static splinting to prevent contractures is a well-considered intervention or just wishful thinking.

Accuracy of burn size assessment prior to arrival in Dutch Burn centres and its consequences in children: A nationwide evaluation §

BACKGROUND Total body surface area (TBSA) burned, expressed as percentage is one of the most important aspects of the initial care of a burn victim. It determines whether transfer to a burn centre is necessary as well as the need for, and amount of, intravenous fluid resuscitation. Numerous studies, however, have highlighted inaccuracies in TBSA assessment. Therefore, the differences in burn size estimates between referrers and burn centres in children and its consequences in terms of transfer and intravenous fluid resuscitation were investigated. METHODS This study involved two time periods from January 2002 until March 2004 and January 2007 until August 2008. All referred children admitted to a Dutch Burn centre within 24h post burn were eligible. Data were obtained from patient records retrospectively and in part prospectively. RESULTS A total of 323 and 299 children were included in periods 1 and 2, respectively. Referring physicians overestimated burn size with a factor two (mean difference: 6% TBSA ± 5.5). About one in five children was referred to a burn centre without fulfilling the criteria for referral with regard to burn size (assessed by burn specialists) special localisation or inhalation trauma. Proportions of children receiving intravenous fluid resuscitation regardless of indication increased from 33% to 49% (p<0.01). The received volumes tended to be higher than necessary. CONCLUSIONS Referring physicians overestimate burn size in children admitted to Dutch burn centres. This has little negative consequences, however, in terms of unindicated transfers to a burn centre or unnecessary fluid resuscitation.

Burns to the head and neck: Epidemiology and predictors of surgery

BACKGROUND The face is a frequent site of burn, but prevalence rates vary and reports are often limited to one healthcare setting. We examined the incidence of facial burns in the Netherlands in Emergency Departments (ED), hospitals and burn centres. Additionally, we identified which patient, injury and burn-related characteristics were predictors of facial burns, facial surgery and facial reconstruction in burn centres. METHODS A retrospective, observational study was conducted including data from the Dutch Injury Surveillance System, the National Hospital Discharge Register and burn centres in a 5-year period (2003-2007). RESULTS Facial burn incidences per 100,000 were 15.1 for ED visits, 1.3 for hospital admissions and 1.4 for burn centre admissions. A total of 2691 patients were admitted to Dutch burn centres; 47.5% (n=1277) had facial burns of which 20.5% received primary facial surgery and 5.3% received facial reconstruction in follow-up. Predictors of facial burns and facial surgery were identified. Predictors of facial reconstructive surgery were burns to the neck (ventral), fire/flame burns and number of facial surgeries in the acute phase of the burn. CONCLUSIONS One in five patients with facial burns admitted to a Dutch burn centre received primary facial surgery and 1 in 20 received facial reconstructive surgery within a follow-up of minimum 2 years.

Epidemiology of children admitted to the Dutch burn centres. Changes in referral influence admittance rates in burn centres

BACKGROUND In the Beverwijk Burn Centre a remarkable rise has been noted in the number of paediatric admissions since 2000. To investigate if this is a national trend and, if so, what may have caused it, a retrospective epidemiological study has been undertaken. MATERIALS AND METHODS The databases of the three Dutch burn centres were combined. Data on the population at risk for admission in a burn centre and data on burns related hospital admissions were added. Two age groups, 0-4 years and 5-17 years and two time periods, 1995-1999 and 2000-2007, were compared. RESULTS The mean number of paediatric admissions in the Dutch burn centres per year increased by 44.0% and 44.3% for the younger children (0-4 years) and the older children (5-17 years), respectively, whereas the number of paediatric burn admissions in other hospitals in the Netherlands decreased. The percentage of children that was referred from other hospitals increased in both age groups, and for the younger children this was significant. CONCLUSION There has been a shift in paediatric burn care towards a greater volume of admissions in specialized burn care of especially young children with less severe burns. A possible explanation for the increased number of referred children may be the introduction of the EMSB course in 1998, since EMSB guidelines dictate stricter and generally accepted referral criteria.

The role of nasal carriage in Staphylococcus aureus burn wound colonization

Thermal injury destroys the physical skin barrier that normally prevents invasion of microorganisms. This and concomitant depression of local and systemic host cellular and humoral immune responses are important factors that contribute to colonization and infection of the burn wound. One of the most common burn wound pathogens is Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus is both a human commensal and a frequent cause of infections leading to mild to life-threatening diseases. Despite a variety of infection control measures, for example patient cohorting and contact precaution at burn centres, S. aureus is still frequently encountered in burn wounds. Colonization with S. aureus has been associated with delayed wound healing, increased need for surgical interventions, and prolonged length of stay at burn centres. In this minireview, we focus on S. aureus nasal carriage in relation to S. aureus burn wound colonization and subsequent infection, and its impact on strategies for infection control.

Force transmission through the juvenile idiopathic arthritic wrist:a novel approach using a sliding rigid body spring model

Force transmission across the wrist during a grasping maneuver of the hand was simulated for three children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and for one healthy age-matched child. Joint reaction forces were estimated using a series of springs between articulating bones. This method (i.e., rigid body spring modeling) has proven useful for examining loading profiles for normally aligned wrists. A novel method (i.e., sliding rigid body spring modeling) designed specifically for studying joint reaction forces of the malaligned JIA wrist is presented in this paper. Loading profiles across the wrist for the unimpaired child were similar using both spring modeling methods. However, the traditional fixed-end method failed to converge to a solution for one of the JIA subjects indicating the sliding model may be more suitable for investigating loading profiles of the malaligned wrist. The results of this study suggest that a larger proportion of force is transferred through the ulno-carpal joint of the JIA wrist than for healthy subjects, with a less than normal proportion of force transferred through the radio-carpal joint. In addition, the ulnar directed forces along the shear axis defined in this study were greater for all three JIA children compared to values for the healthy child. These observations are what were hypothesized for an individual with JIA of the wrist.