Zhu Shihui

The direct hospitalisation costs of paediatric scalds: 2-Year results of a prospective case series

OBJECTIVE To reveal the characteristic and distribution of length of hospital stay (LOS) and direct hospitalisation costs of paediatric scald. METHODS A prospective case series observation was performed from January 2005 to December 2006 at the Burn Center, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China. The information, such as demographics, clinical diagnosis and treatments since admission, of the paediatric scald patients included in the series was recorded. The direct cost of a treatment event was recorded into the price system when it was incurred. All cost data were summarised on completion of the study. The distribution of LOS and the hospitalisation costs were recorded by gender, age, total burn area, depth of burn, blood transfusion and patterns of treatment. Mann-Whitney signed-rank test was used to assess the differences between continuous, non-normally distributed variables, and multiple linear regression was used to model LOS and direct hospitalisation costs. Statistical analyses were undertaken with SPSS 15.0 statistical software. RESULTS Patients aged 3 years or less accounted for more than half of the total LOS and hospitalisation costs, patients with burn area less than 10%TBSA (total burn surface area) accounted for more than 70% of the total LOS and more than half of the hospitalisation costs and patients with second-degree burn accounted for more than 78% of the total LOS and hospitalisation costs. Depth of burn, area of burn, patterns of treatment and blood transfusion were independent predictors of LOS; whereas LOS, area of burn and blood transfusion were independent predictors of hospitalisation costs. CONCLUSION Paediatric scalds have particular characteristics in terms of distribution of LOS and direct hospitalisation costs and the factors influencing them. The data presented in this study should assist burn care practitioners and hospital epidemiologists estimate and compare the economic burden of paediatric burns at other institutions; it may also be useful in resource allocation and cost-effectiveness analysis of treatment versus prevention strategies.

Short- and long-term outcomes of small auto- and cryopreserved allograft skin grafting in those with >60%TBSA deep burn wounds

BACKGROUND The shortage of autologous skin sources not only adds difficulty to the repair of extremely large-area deep burn wounds but affects the healing quality. The aim of the present study is to explore an ideal method for repairing large-areas burn wounds with low scar formation. METHODS Between 2002 and 2014, we used grafting of small auto- and cryopreserved allo-skin to repair large-area residual burn wounds in wounds after 21 days 21 patients, and after early excision in 17 patients. The wound healing rate and quality were observed. RESULTS The skin expansion rate was 1:9-1:16, and the mean area of wounds repaired after three weeks was 64.8±7.3%TBSA, the wound healing rate was 91.8±3.7%. The mean area of the early excision group was 65.9±9.8 TBSA, where the healing rate was 94.5±5.6%. After small auto- and cryopreserved allograft skin grafting, the epidermis of the auto-skin gradually replaced the allo-epidermis, and the allo-dermis persisted for a prolonged period. The dermal collagen fibers at the allo-skin grafting sites were well arranged. At 1-2-year follow-up, observation showed that the Vancouver Scar Scale total score was 4·304±2·363, and we did not discern significant contracture and dysfunction in the large joints of the four extremities. CONCLUSIONS Small auto- and cryopreserved allograft skin grafting of small auto- and allo-skin not only raised the graft expansion rate but offers a stable wound healing rate. This new technique may provide an option for repair of large-area deep burn wounds.