Analyzing Mortality And The Effect Of Early Excision As A Preliminary Treatment Of Acute Burn Patients In A Limited Resource Setting Using LA50 As An Outcome Measurement

Advances in burn care have led to an overall improvement in mortality in high-income countries, but in low-middle income countries mortality remains relatively high. In a limited resource setting where temporary wound closure options were unavailable, it was determined whether early excision as a preliminary treatment could improve prognosis. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital Burn Unit to evaluate the outcomes of acute burn patients admitted from January 2013 to December 2018 using mortality and lethal area 50 (LA50), and to compare the outcomes between groups who underwent early excision without skin graft (EEWG), early excision with skin graft (EESG), delayed excision without skin graft (DEWG), or delayed excision with skin graft (DESG). Out of 390 patients available for screening, 256 were eligible for further study. The overall mortality was 17.9% with an increase linear with age and total body surface area (TBSA). The overall LA50 was 49%. Preliminary data showed the highest percentage of deaths in the no treatment group, with no deaths seen in treatment groups EESG and DESG. The odds ratio for mortality in the EEWG group was 2.11 (p-value 0.201, CI95% = 0.65-6.80) compared to the DEWG group. LA50 is more objective compared to crude mortality and enables future internal and external comparison. The highest mortality was in the no treatment group with mortality in the EEWG group higher than in the DEWG, but not statistically different. Early excision without skin grafting as a preliminary procedure may still be considered in a limited resource setting.

Correlation of occurrence of infection in burn patients

The study of burn flora is helpful in determining current antibiotic susceptibilities and locating development of multidrug resistant bacterial strains among the unit's usual flora. In this study, we aimed to determine the bacteriological pattern of blood, urine and sputum infections and their correlation with burn wound infections. We used data from our burn registry program. All data on demographics, burn wounds and burn wound infection, bacteria isolated, sensitivity to different antibiotics, burn wound culture, sputum culture, urine culture and catheter tip culture were recorded. We had 1721 hospitalized burn patients. Mean age was 26.3+/-20.25 years old. Mean hospital stay was 14.41 days (range 0-64 days). Mean (SD) TBSA was 16.48 (20.67) years. Mortality rate was 5.9%. Burn wound infection was present in 38.54%. The most frequent species was Staphylococcus spp. (55.1%), followed by Pseudomonas (14.29%), Enterococcus (12.24%), E. coli (4%), Klebsiella and Proteus (both 2%). Urine culture was positive in 27.9%, sputum culture was positive in 1.14%, catheter tip culture was positive in 12.3% and blood culture was positive in 7.6% of the cases. There were correlations between positive wound culture and blood and urine culture, most of them with one bacteria species. The most frequent disseminated bacteria was Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the most sensitive antibiotic was Amikacin. More than 39.2% of our positive culture patients had 3 or more positive cultures, and 36.5% had similar culture results for one bacteria, which was a sign of disseminated infection.

The time point in surgical excision of heterotopic ossification of post-traumatic stiff elbow: recommendation for early excision followed by early exercise

BACKGROUND

Post-traumatic heterotopic ossification (HO) around the elbow may severely impair joint function. Although surgical excision is effective at restoring range of motion (ROM), traditional surgical treatment is postponed for at least 1 year to prevent recurrence, which leads to secondary contracture of the elbow. Because the optimal timing of resection is controversial, our study was performed to compare recurrence and elbow function between early and late excision in our patients to determine whether the delay is necessary.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 164 patients during a 4-year period. In the control group (112 patients), HO was excised at an average of 23.0 months after initial injury (range, 9-204 months); in the early excision group (52 patients), resection was performed at an average of 6.1 months (range, 3-8 months). HO recurrence was assessed by the Hastings classification system. Final ROM and Mayo Elbow Performance Scores were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Recurrent HO was observed in 30 of 112 patients (26.8%) in the control group and 15 of 52 (28.9%) in early excision group. No significant difference in HO recurrence was found between the 2 groups (P = .942). Moreover, there were no notable differences regarding ROM, Mayo Elbow Performance Scores, and complications postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Early excision associated with early exercise is effective for the treatment of HO aiming at a low recurrence rate and satisfactory function. The conventional surgical delay of more than 1 year may be shortened.

Infections in Burns

Infections remain a leading cause of death in burn patients. This is as a result of loss of the environmental barrier function of the skin predisposing these patients to microbial colonization leading to invasion. Therefore, reconstitution of the environmental barrier by debriding the devitalized tissue and wound closure with application of allograft versus autograft is of optimal importance.

Surgical options in extensive burns management

Background - hypothesis and objective: In the past decades, extensive burn care has improved to the extent that burn victims can now frequently survive. Current treatment of a severe burned patient extends beyond the preservation of life and function; the ultimate goal is the return of survivors, as full participants, back to their families, work field and communities. Methods: This paper is based on our experience in treating patients with extensive burns. We had two panels as follows: 148 subjects with extensive burns in one original retrospective study (2002-2009) and other 47 new patients with extensive burns enrolled in other original prospective study (2010-2011). We selected the subjects with extensive burns who received allotransplant (n = 59). Our study aimed to identify and quantify the main psychosocial difficulties in patients with extensive burns who received allotransplant, also taking into account the surgical procedures applied in each case. Results: One of the major problems a surgeon faces is the nature of the decision he has to make regarding a treatment (conservative versus operative), based on the exact determination of burn wound depth. In case of early excision, deep lesions and suitable grafting represent the chosen surgical treatment in our center. The benefits of skin allografts are well known due to their contribution to burn management. Conclusions & discussion: This paper is designed as a guideline and instruction manual to help those with less experience through particular situations in surgical burn care. Early excision and immediate coverage of the burn wounds represent nowadays the standard care for extensive burned patients. For patients with massive thermal injury, temporary coverage with allografts is essential. The use of allograft has multiple benefits because it plays both as physiologic and mechanical barriers.