Epidemiological investigation of burn inpatients in 6 hospitals of Hainan province: a retrospective analysis in 8 years / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze epidemiological characteristics of burn inpatients in Hainan province over 8 years.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six thousand and ninety-nine burn patients admitted to 6 hospitals of Hainan province from January 2002 to December 2009 were enrolled in the study. The clinical data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively, including age, gender, injury cause, wound position, burn area, ailment prior to admission, admission time, medical insurance, length of hospital stay, and mortality rate, relationship among inpatient distribution, admission time, and ambient temperature at the time of admission. Data were processed with SPSS 13.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were more burn male patients than female, with ratio of 2.1: 1.0. Most patients were younger than 13 years (57.2%, 3488/6099). The most common burn area was smaller than or equal to 10% TBSA (67.4%, 4108/6099), and the fewest patients had burn areas of over 50% TBSA (2.0%, 121/6099). The main causative agents were hot liquid and flame, accounting for 71.5% (4358/6099), 17.9% (1092/6099), respectively. Most patients had injuries of more than two body areas (60.7%, 3705/6099), and lower extremity injury (17.1%, 1042/6099) was predominant in wound of single body area. Among 703 cases who had other ailments prior to admission (11.5%), the highest rate of prior ailments was found in patients older than 60 years (18.5%, 48/260), it was lowest in children younger than 1 year (8.0%, 32/398). The length of hospital stay was 1 to 375 day, and the admission time was 10 minutes to 90 days after burn. Total mortality rate was 0.4% (26 cases). The number of inpatients aged from 19 to 59 was obviously higher in months with high ambient temperature (from June to August), and for inpatients younger than 13 years the incidence of burn injury showed no obvious seasonal change. The inpatients who had medical insurance accounted for 10.9% (66/603) to 19.5% (121/619) from 2002 to 2005, which increased to 46.0% (372/808) in 2007 and 79.1% (869/1098) in 2009.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>For burn inpatients in Hainan province, the main injury cause of burn injury is hot liquid, the number of burn adults aged from 19 to 59 seems to increase in months with high ambient temperature, while the incidence of burn in children showed no obvious seasonal change. The number of inpatients and those with medical insurance showed a tendency of increase from 2005 to 2009 in Hainan province.</p>

Follow-up review on the long-term effect of composite transplantation of allogeneic acellular dermal matrix and split thickness skin autograft / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To review the long-term clinical effect of composite transplantation of allogeneic acellular dermal matrix (ADM) and split thickness skin autograft (STSG).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nineteen patients with 34 wounds transplanted with allogeneic ADM combined with STSG who were hospitalized from March 2001 to October 2008 were enrolled as composite transplantation group (CT). Another 9 patients with 11 wounds transplanted with STSG admitted within the same time frame were enrolled as control group (C). All patients were followed up for longer than 2 years. Color, evenness, texture, contracture, sensation, and complications of transplanted skin were assessed using a modified Manchester Scar Scale (1-4 scores, the higher the score, the poorer the situation). The scar formation on skin donor sites was assessed by the Vancouver Scar Scale. Patients' degree of satisfaction and health status during the transplantation period were investigated in the form of questionnaire. The skin tissue structure of 4 patients was observed with histological method. The joint range of motion was assessed by the neutral position before and after operation and at follow-up. Data were processed with nonparametric test, chi-square test or t test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The evenness, contracture, and texture of transplanted skin in CT group scored (1.6 ± 0.5), (1.8 ± 0.8), and (1.5 ± 0.8), respectively, which were significantly lower than those in C group [(2.0 ± 0.7), (2.2 ± 0.9), and (2.3 ± 0.7), with Z value respectively -2.058, -2.220, -2.323, P values all below 0.05]. Scores of color, sensation, and complications of transplanted skin in two groups were close to each other (with Z value respectively -0.628, -0.428, -2.520, P values all above 0.05). (2) Mild scar formation was observed in one of the skin donor sites in CT group. (3) Information as obtained from questionnaire showed no statistical difference between two groups in pinching, itching, and satisfaction degree (with χ(2) value respectively 0.187, 0.019, 2.628, P values all above 0.05). (4) Nerve fibers were seen in hand tissue 2 years after operation. ADM did not induce severe inflammatory responses in the site of grafting. (5) Eleven joints in CT group recovered or improved in function; while the other two joints required secondary surgery. Obvious contracture was observed in the two joints in C group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Allogeneic ADM combined with STSG transplantation prevents scar contracture and has obvious effect in improving function and appearance. There is no problem in regard to safety for its existence in either adult or children.</p>

Repair of electric burn wound in the upper limbs with lateral intercostal perforator-based pedicled flap / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To describe an operative method for the repair of electric burn wound in the upper limbs with lateral intercostal perforator-based pedicled flap, and to observe its clinical effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Intercostal artery perforator-based pedicled abdominal flap with the blood supply originating from the lateral perforator branches of the 7th-10th intercostal arteries were used to repair the wounds of 6 patients with burn wounds in elbows, forearm, wrists and palms. The pedicles were (16. 0 cm x 12. 0 cm) - (9. 0 cm x 7.0 cm) in area, and the pedicles were severed 18 to 21 days after the operation. The survival and the appearance of the flaps were observed after operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The procedure was easy and safe, and there was reliable and adequate blood supply in the lateral intercostal perforator-based pedicled flap. All the flaps survived in 5 patients, except marginal necrosis (3.5 cm x 2. 0 cm) was found in the distal portion of flap because flap cutting exceeded the paraumbilical line. The appearance was satisfactory after operation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This flap is suitable for the repair of deep wounds in hands, forearms, and elbows.</p>

Survey on the bacterial flora and their resistance to antibiotics in hospitalized burn patients on tropical islands / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the bacterial flora and their drug resistance in hospitalized burn patients on tropical islands.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrospective study was carried out to analyze pathogenic microorganisms and their drug resistance characteristics in 392 burn patients hospitalized during 2000-2005.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Totally 671 strains of bacteria were isolated, among which Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Aerobacter cloacae and Acinetobacter species were predominant, but the isolation rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was declining compared with that in 1990's. (2) The resistance rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to imipenem and cefepime was 32.2% and 36.7% , respectively, while that to other antibiotics was above 80%. (3) Among 141 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 89 strains (63.1%) of MRSA were isolated, and none of them were resistant to Vancomycin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Aerobacter cloacae and Acinetobacter species were predominant in tropical islands. The species of the pathogens are changing . The drug resistance rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are rather high.</p>

Reparation of deep burn wounds with different kinds of skin flaps in patients with electrical injury / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To sum up the clinical experience in the reparation of burn wounds with different types of skin flaps in patients with severe electrical injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Free skin flap, axile island flap with vascular pedicle and muscular skin flap were employed to repair 64 wounds in 49 cases.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Skin flap necrosis happened in 2 cases, congestion and necrosis at the edge of skin flaps in 4 cases, and complete survival of the skin flaps and primary healing of the wounds in the remaining cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Reparation of wounds with proper skin flaps according to the degree of the electrical injury is effective and reliable, which might be beneficial to the prevention of necrobiosis and the infection in deep tissue.</p>

The clinical application on composite graft of acellular allo-dermal matrix and auto-microskin on escharectomy after deep burns / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To present the clinical application of composite graft of acellular allo-dermis matrix (ADM) with thin auto-microskin on burn wound.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>8 inpatients with 18 full thickness skin burn wounds were transplanted with allo-ADM after eschar was excised, then the auto-microskin and allo-human skin were covered on the area of the matrix, the wound where no allo-ADM grafting were covered as control groups only with auto-microskin and allo-human skin. The area of donor to wound is 1:5 - 1:8.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Survived rate of 18 pieces composite skin that allo-ADM with auto-microskin were grafted were 94%. After following up for 3 to 13 months, the skins of complex grifting had well elastic and smooth texture compared to auto-microskin grafted, they appeared less cicatrisation and ulceration. 3 months after operation, it was indicated by histological examination that tightknit the epithelial-dermal conjunction and epidermal papilla structure could be identified in the allo-ADM skin and there were orderly collagenous fibres, but scar skin structure was observed in that auto-microskin grifted area.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The graft effectiveness of allo-ADM and auto-microskin was better than that of auto-microskin, and this method could be used on major deep burn wound healing.</p>