Friction burns in children: does laser Doppler imaging have a role?

Evidence Based Burn Depth Assessment Using Laser-Based Technologies: Where Do We Stand?

Early clinical assessment of burn depth and associated healing potential (HP) remains extremely challenging, even for experienced surgeons. Inaccurate diagnosis often leads to prolonged healing times and unnecessary surgical procedures, resulting in incremental costs, and unfavorable outcomes. Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) is currently the most objective and accurate diagnostic tool to measure blood flow and its associated HP, the main predictor for a patient's long-term functional and aesthetic outcome. A systematic review was performed on non-invasive, laser-based methods for burn depth assessment using skin microcirculation measurements to determine time to healing: Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), LDI and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). Important drawbacks of single point LDF measurements are direct contact with numerous small points on the wound bed and the need to carry out serial measurements over several days. LDI is a fast, "non-contact," single measurement tool allowing to scan large burned areas with a 96% accuracy. LDI reduces the number of surgeries, improves the functional and aesthetic outcome and is cost-effective. There is only limited evidence for the use of LSCI in burn depth assessment. LSCI still needs technical improvements and scientific validation, before it can be approved for reliable burn assessment. LDI has proven to be invaluable in determining the optimal treatment of a burn patient. For unclear reasons, LDI is still not routinely used in burn centers worldwide. Additional research is required to identify potential "barriers" for universal implementation of this evidence-based burn depth assessment tool.

Nano-silver modified porcine small intestinal submucosa for the treatment of infected partial-thickness burn wounds

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Silver has been widely used as a topical antimicrobial agent in burn wound care. In a previous study, we demonstrated the introduction of nano-silver particles to porcine small intestinal submucosa (NS-PSIS) led to significant enhancement in antibacterial property in repairing contaminated abdominal defect. In this study, we explored the efficacy of NS-PSIS in the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected partial-thickness burn wounds.

METHODS

48 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of equal number. Standardized and reproducible Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected partial-thickness thermal burns wound model were created using these rats. NS-PSIS, PSIS (porcine small intestinal submucosa) or lipido-colloid dressingss (Urgotul™) were tested for 14days to assess their ability to heal the rats' burn wounds. Control group was without any treatment after the establishment of infected burn-wound. The wound contraction rate, animal body weight change, histological examination, and the quantification of IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured to evaluate the healing effects.

RESULTS

NS-PSIS significantly promoted wound healing and recovered the normal growth of rats. There were significantly lower expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-6) and CRP in NS-PSIS group as compared with the PSIS or Urgotul group in the treatment of infected partial-thickness burn wounds. Histological exams revealed significant less inflammatory cells infiltrating, more re-epithelization and neovascularization in NS-PSIS group. There were also less inflammatory cells infiltrations in the major organs in NS-PSIS group.

CONCLUSIONS

Nano-silver modified porcine small intestinal submucosa (NS-PSIS) can be used as a biological derivative dressing for the treatment of infected partial-thickness burn wounds.

Upper Extremity Friction Burns in the Pediatric Patient: A 10-year Review

Background

Upper extremity friction burn due to powered home equipment is a growing problem in the pediatric population. The purpose of this study was to review the etiology, presentation, characteristics, and treatment of this particular type of pediatric mechanism of injury.

Methods

A retrospective chart review using International Classification of Diseases, version 9, codes for patients treated at a large tertiary care, free-standing children's hospital was performed to identify all patients presenting with an upper extremity friction burn from 2003 to 2012.

Results

Sixty-nine patients sustained upper extremity friction burns. The average age at the time of injury was 3.3 years (range, 0.7-10.6) with presentation to our center occurring 16.6 days (range, 0-365 days) following injury. Mean follow-up was 23.3 months (range, 2-104). Mechanism of injury included treadmills (n = 63) and vacuum cleaners (n = 6). Twenty-eight operations were performed on 21 patients (30%). All patients requiring a surgical intervention sustained injury via treadmill mechanism (P = 0.0001). Unlike treadmill burns, vacuum cleaner injuries affected the dorsal hand or a single digit (P = 0.00004). Scar hyperpigmentation was more prevalent in these patients compared with the treadmill group (P = 0.003). All vacuum-induced burn patients had full range of motion and function with conservative treatment alone, whereas only 55.6% of treadmill burn patients had full recovery of range of motion and 50.8% recovery of full hand function.

Conclusions

Friction burns from vacuum cleaners are less prevalent, have different injury patterns, and can be treated conservatively with excellent functional outcomes. Treadmill friction burns result in more significant injury and risk for dysfunction, requiring surgical intervention.

Dermal Abrasion Experienced as an Adverse Effect of the EZ-IO(®)

BACKGROUND

In 2007, an update was released to the pediatric and neonatal septic shock guidelines, which emphasized early use of therapies, specifically, first-hour fluid resuscitation and inotrope therapy. This has led to increased use of intraosseous (IO) access as a source of vascular access. Previously, IO access could be obtained only via a manual IO placement. New semi-automatic devices, such as EZ-IO(®) (Vidacare, Shavano Park, TX), allow for safer and quicker IO access. Data support the use of semi-automatic devices during the acute resuscitation period.

CASE REPORT

The patient was a 7-month old girl with VACTERL association (Vertebral defects, Anal atresia, Cardiac defects, Tracheo-Esophageal fistula, Renal anomalies, Limb abnormalities) and complex past medical history. The patient experienced a "choking episode," which led to subsequent apnea and cyanosis. The patient presented in shock to a local pediatric emergency department. After multiple unsuccessful intravenous line attempts, IO access was obtained using the EZ-IO(®). Once in the pediatric intensive care unit with venous access, the IO device was removed and the site had "red bulls-eye target shape" damage to the skin, which appeared consistent with the EZ-IO(®) flange. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: IO device use is increasing due to the most recent pediatric and neonatal septic shock guidelines, which emphasize first-hour fluid resuscitation and inotrope therapy. It is vital that emergency physicians be aware of the adverse effects of semi-automatic IO devices, including dermal abrasion, which has not been reported previously. With proper training and familiarity, it is possible to avoid dermal abrasion as an adverse effect of the semi-automatic IO device.

Noninvasive imaging technologies for cutaneous wound assessment: A review

The ability to phenotype wounds for the purposes of assessing severity, healing potential and treatment is an important function of evidence-based medicine. A variety of optical technologies are currently in development for noninvasive wound assessment. To varying extents, these optical technologies have the potential to supplement traditional clinical wound evaluation and research, by providing detailed information regarding skin components imperceptible to visual inspection. These assessments are achieved through quantitative optical analysis of tissue characteristics including blood flow, collagen remodeling, hemoglobin content, inflammation, temperature, vascular structure, and water content. Technologies that have, to this date, been applied to wound assessment include: near infrared imaging, thermal imaging, optical coherence tomography, orthogonal polarization spectral imaging, fluorescence imaging, laser Doppler imaging, microscopy, spatial frequency domain imaging, photoacoustic detection, and spectral/hyperspectral imaging. We present a review of the technologies in use or development for these purposes with three aims: (1) providing basic explanations of imaging technology concepts, (2) reviewing the wound imaging literature, and (3) providing insight into areas for further application and exploration. Noninvasive imaging is a promising advancement in wound assessment and all technologies require further validation.

The Ice and Salt Challenge: An Atypical Presentation of a Cold Injury: A Case Report

CASE

We present a case of a healthy seventeen-year-old adolescent with a cold injury to the hands from a new phenomenon known as the "ice and salt challenge," where adolescents hold an ice cube and salt against their skin in competition to see which participant can withstand the discomfort the longest. This competition results in a characteristic injury pattern to the hands. The patient was treated with local wound care and had no long-term deficits.

CONCLUSION

It is important for orthopaedic surgeons to be aware of the ice and salt challenge because they may be the first health-care providers to witness its effects. A high index of suspicion is critical in order to properly diagnose, treat, and counsel these patients against risk-taking behaviors.

A systematic review of the evolution of laser Doppler techniques in burn depth assessment

Aims. The introduction of laser Doppler (LD) techniques to assess burn depth has revolutionized the treatment of burns of indeterminate depth. This paper will systematically review studies related to these two techniques and trace their evolution. At the same time we hope to highlight current controversies and areas where further research is necessary with regard to LD imaging (LDI) techniques. Methods. A systematic search for relevant literature was carried out on PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. Key search terms included the following: “Laser Doppler imaging,” “laser Doppler flow,” and “burn depth.” Results. A total of 53 studies were identified. Twenty-six studies which met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were included in the review. Conclusions. The numerous advantages of LDI over those of LD flowmetry have resulted in the former technique superseding the latter one. Despite the presence of alternative burn depth assessment techniques, LDI remains the most favoured. Various newer LDI machines with increasingly sophisticated methods of assessing burn depth have been introduced throughout the years. However, factors such as cost effectiveness, scanning of topographically inconsistent areas of the body, and skewing of results due to tattoos, peripheral vascular disease, and anaemia continue to be sighted as obstacles to LDI which require further research.