Treatment of facial pigmentation after burns with traditional Chinese medicine mask and skin care / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of traditional Chinese medicine mask combined with skin care in the treatment of facial pigmentation after burns.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-one patients with facial pigmentation after burns hospitalized from January 2009 to June 2010 were enrolled and divided into treatment group (n = 26, odd number) and control group (n = 15, even number) according to the visiting order. After cleaning, massaging, and steam spraying to faces, patients in treatment and control groups were respectively treated with traditional Chinese medicine mask developed by physicians in our hospital and common commercial beauty mask. Masks were removed when they became completely dry. The treatment was repeated every other day. Ten times made up a course of treatment. Three consecutive courses were carried out on each patient. Before treatment and at the end of each course, the skin color differences were measured with Vancouver Pigmented Scar Scale; image gray scale value of pigmented skin was measured with image analysis technique. Satisfaction degree acknowledged by both patients and physicians were recorded at the end of each course; adverse effects were recorded; and the overall efficacy between two groups was compared. Data were processed with chi-square test or t test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Skin color differences, image gray scale value of patients in treatment group were close to those in control group before treatment (with t value respectively 0.800 and 0.694, P values all above 0.05). Skin color differences, image gray scale value, and satisfaction degree acknowledged by both patients and physicians in treatment group were better than those in control group at the end of each course. At the end of the third course of treatment, the skin color differences in treatment and control groups scored 0.5 ± 0.4 and 1.1 ± 0.6, respectively, with image gray scale value of 55 ± 5 and 66 ± 6, respectively, which were statistically different from each other (with t value respectively 3.389 and 5.102, P values all below 0.01). The overall efficacy of the treatment group was 92.3%, which was much better than that of the control group (53.3%, χ(2) = 6.31, P < 0.05). No allergy caused by the traditional Chinese medicine mask was observed during the treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The traditional Chinese medicine mask combined with skin care is effective for the treatment of facial pigmentation after burns.</p>

Rescue and treatment for the mass burn casualties of yellow phosphorus explosion / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize the characteristics and treatment of burn casualties of yellow phosphorus explosion, so as to share the experiences in emergency treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By analyzing the data related to this accident, the characteristics of the injury and experiences of treatment for mass burn casualties from yellow phosphorous explosion were summarized.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eighty-one patients, 72 males and 9 females, were injured in a yellow phosphorus explosion. The mean age of the patients was 24 +/- 13 years old (5-42 y). The mean total burn surface area was (9 +/- 11)% [(0.4% - 70.0%))] TBSA, and the mean burn surface area of III degrees/IV degrees was (7 +/- 10)% [(0.4% - 60.0%)] TBSA. Most of the patients showed the symptoms and signs of phosphorus poisoning. Among all the patients, 27 cases (33.3%) showed hepatic dysfunction, 15 cases (18.5%) had renal dysfunction, 42cases (51.9%) showed electrolytes disorders. Among the 8 patients with burn surface area over 10% TBSA and less than 20% TBSA, high levels of cardiac enzymes were found in 6 cases, anaemia in 7 cases (3 with progressive anaemia), asphyxia occurred in 1 case 48 hours after burn, and in 1 case complicated with stress ulcer. Escharectomy and skin grafting were performed within four days after burn in 72 patients. All the patients survived, some of them showed impaired hand function and hypertrophic scar, and partial finger amputation was done in 3 patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Yellow phosphorus explosion produces deep burn injuries in surrounding people especially in exposed parts such as head, hand and so on. Adequate organization of medical resources for emergency treatment, early debridement, and accelerating excretion of phosphorus are the key points for the successful rescue of mass casualties.</p>