Deliberate Practice as an Effective Method for Reducing Diagnostic Error in Identifying Burn and Bruise Injuries Suspicious for an Abusive Injury.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness of an education intervention for reducing physician diagnostic error in identifying pediatric burn and bruise injuries suspicious for abuse, and to determine case-specific variables associated with an increased risk of diagnostic error. STUDY DESIGN: This was a multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of pediatricians and other front-line physicians who treat acutely injured children in the United States and Canada were eligible for participation. Using a web-based education and assessment platform, physicians deliberately practiced with a spectrum of 300 pediatric burn and bruise injury image-based cases. Participants were asked if there was a suspicion for abuse present or absent, were given corrective feedback after every case, and received summative diagnostic performance overall (accuracy), suspicion for abuse present (sensitivity), and absent (specificity). RESULT: Of the 93/137 (67.9%) physicians who completed all 300 cases, there was a significant reduction in diagnostic error (initial 16.7%, final 1.6%; delta -15.1%; 95% CI 13.5, 16.7), sensitivity error (initial 11.9%, final 0.7%; delta -11.2%; 95% CI 9.8, 12.5), and specificity error (initial 23.3%, final 6.6%; delta -16.7%; 95% CI 14.8, 18.6). Based on 35,627 case interpretations, variables associated with diagnostic error included patient age, sex, skin color, mechanism of injury, and size and pattern of injury. CONCLUSION: The education intervention substantially reduced diagnostic error in differentiating the presence versus absence of a suspicion for abuse in children with burn and bruise injuries. Several case-based variables were associated with diagnostic error, and these data can be used to close specific skill gaps in this clinical domain.

Assessing Pediatric Burn Wound Infection Using a Point-of-Care Fluorescence Imaging Device.

Wound infection is the most common complication among pediatric burn patients. When not treated promptly, burn wound infection may lead to delayed healing, failure of skin grafts, or death. Standard burn wound assessment includes inspection for visual signs and symptoms of infection (VSSI) and microbial sampling. To aid in the assessment of burn wound infection, the MolecuLight, a point-of-care autofluorescence imaging device, was introduced at our pediatric burn program in 2020. The MolecuLight uses violet light to illuminate the wound bed, causing clinically relevant quantities of 29 different species of bacteria (>104 CFU/g) to fluoresce in real time. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the role of the MolecuLight in the management of pediatric burn wounds and determine if the findings from the MolecuLight corresponded to VSSI and/or microbial sampling. A retrospective review of patients 0-18 years who had burn wounds assessed with the MolecuLight between November 1, 2020 and June 8, 2023 was conducted. Data were extracted from the medical records of 178 eligible patients with 218 wounds imaged with the device. Fluorescence corresponded with VSSI in 81% of wounds and microbial findings in 82% of wounds. MolecuLight fluorescence, in combination with VSSI, improved sensitivity for detecting wound infections by 39% and decreased specificity by 19% compared to visual signs and symptoms in isolation. Incorporation of the MolecuLight in standard burn wound assessments can improve the detection of infections, which may promote improved wound healing outcomes and antimicrobial stewardship.

Resident Exposure and Involvement in Core Procedural Competencies within Pediatric Plastic Surgery.

Introduction: The implementation of competency-based residency training in plastic surgery is underway. Key competencies in plastic surgery have been previously identified, however, within the domain of pediatrics, data suggest limited exposure throughout training for Canadian graduates. This study aims to identify the exposure and involvement of residents in core pediatric cases. Methods: We performed a retrospective, multicenter review of plastic surgery resident case logs (T-Res, POWER, New Innovations) across 10 Canadian, English-speaking training programs between 2004 and 2014. Case logs were coded according to the 8 core pediatric competencies previously identified by a modified Delphi technique. Results: A total of 3061 of 59 405 cases (5.2%) logged by 55 graduating residents were core pediatric procedures with an average of 55.6 ± 23.0 cases logged per resident. The top 3 most commonly logged procedures were cleft lip repair, cleft palate repair, and setback otoplasty. The number of cases per program varied widely with the most at 731 and least at 85 logged cases. Roles across procedures have wide variation and residents are most commonly identified as the assistant rather than surgeon or co-surgeon. Conclusion: These findings highlight variability both within and across residency programs with a paucity of exposure and involvement in pediatric plastic surgery cases. This may present a conflict between current recommendations for residency-specific procedural competencies and true clinical exposure. Further curriculum development and simulation may be of benefit.

Introduction: La formation des résidents fondée sur les compétences est en voie d'être adoptée en chirurgie plastique. Les compétences clés sont d'ailleurs déjà établies, mais dans le domaine de la pédiatrie, les données indiquent que les diplômés canadiens y sont peu exposés pendant leur formation. La présente étude vise à déterminer l'exposition et la participation des résidents aux cas fondamentaux en pédiatrie. Méthodologie: Les chercheurs ont procédé à une analyse multicentrique rétrospective des registres de cas des résidents en chirurgie plastique (T-Res, POWER, New Innovations) de dix programmes de formation anglophones canadiens entre 2004 et 2014. Ils ont codé ces registres en fonction des huit compétences pédiatriques fondamentales préalablement déterminées par une technique Delphi modifiée. Résultats: Au total, 3 061 des 59 405 cas enregistrés (5,2 %) par 55 résidents de dernière année étaient des interventions pédiatriques fondamentales, et chaque résident a enregistré une moyenne de 55,6 ± 23,0 cas. Les trois interventions les plus enregistrées étaient la réparation de la fissure labiale, la réparation de la fissure palatine et l'otoplastie. Le nombre de cas enregistrés variait énormément d'un programme à l'autre, le plus élevé étant de 731 et le plus bas, de 85. Les rôles au cours des interventions étaient très variables, et les résidents étaient davantage qualifiés d'assistants que de chirurgiens ou de cochirurgiens. Conclusion: Ces observations font ressortir la variabilité des pratiques à la fois au sein des programmes de résidence et entre eux et démontrent le peu d'exposition et de participation des résidents aux cas de chirurgie plastique pédiatrique. Elles peuvent révéler un conflit entre les recommandations actuelles en matière de compétences interventionnelles des résidents et la véritable exposition clinique. Il pourrait être utile de voir à l'élaboration plus poussée du programme et des simulations.

Timing of nanocrystalline silver-based dressing application - A retrospective single-center pediatric cohort study.

Recent evidence has demonstrated that silver has anti-inflammatory properties that are independent from the known antimicrobial ones. In our current model of care, non-adherent, non-silver dressings are applied for acute presentations of pediatric partial thickness burn injuries. The wounds are re-assessed after the progression phase (48-72 hours after injury) and silver dressings are applied. However, when logistical obstacles prevent re-assessment within the 48-72-hour window, nanocrystalline silver-based dressings are applied on presentation. The objective of this study was to test our model of care. We hypothesized that immediate application (< 24 hours after injury) of nanocrystalline silver-based dressings would reduce surgical interventions. This was a retrospective single-center cohort study. All patients <18 years old treated at a pediatric burn center for acute partial thickness burn injuries, between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021 were included. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare surgical treatment rates between patients with different timing of nanocrystalline silver-based dressing application. Four hundred seventy-six patients were included for analysis. One hundred four (21.8%) had nanocrystalline silver-based dressings and 372 (78.2%) had non-silver non-adherent dressings applied within 24 hours of injury. Multivariable logistic regression identified three statistically significant variables as predictors for surgical treatment: age (OR = 1.14, 95% CI [1.06-1.23]), total body surface area (OR = 1.15, 95% CI [1.06-1.25]), and burns to buttocks/lower extremity (OR = 2.39, 95% CI [1.26-4.53]). Immediate (< 24 hours after injury) application of nanocrystalline silver-based dressings does not affect surgical treatment rate in pediatric patients with partial thickness burns.

Burn data management and usage across Canada.

INTRODUCTION: While some countries collect burn clinical data as part of nonspecific trauma datasets, others have developed burn registries allowing for benchmarking of outcome and quality-of-care data. The objectives of this project are to characterize the current state of burn clinical data collection and analysis in Canada, and to explore the interest of Canadian burn centers in contributing to a nation-wide burn registry. METHODS: A 23-item mixed methods survey was created and delivered via REDCap® to burn directors of 22 burn centers across Canada. Quantitative items were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, and thematic analysis was used to explore qualitative data. RESULTS: Sixteen (72 %) complete survey responses were received. All respondent units collect burn clinical data. Data are largely collected for quality improvement (69 %) and clinical research (50 %) purposes. Half of the institutions did not analyze their data, and a majority (67 %) did not benchmark their data against other datasets. The majority of respondents (93 %) demonstrated interest in contributing to a Canada-wide burn registry. CONCLUSION: Although all respondent units are currently collecting burn clinical data, there is an opportunity to improve data analysis, benchmarking, and knowledge translation. Most centers demonstrated interest in contributing to a novel Canadian burn registry.

Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of pediatric burn care.

The COVID-19 pandemic had widespread effects on the healthcare system due to public health regulations and restrictions. The following study shares trends observed during these extraordinary circumstances to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of pediatric burn care at an American-Burn-Association verified tertiary pediatric hospital in Ontario, Canada. Pediatric burn patient data for new burn patients between March 17th, 2019, and March 17th, 2021, was retrospectively extracted and two cohorts of patients were formed: pre-pandemic and pandemic, through which statistical analysis was performed. No significant changes in the number of admitted patients, age, and sex of patients were observed. However, a significant increase in fire/flame burns was observed during the pandemic period. Additionally, a decrease in follow-up care was observed while an increase in acute burn care (wound care and surgical interventions) was found for the pandemic cohort. Despite changes to hospital care facilities to maximize resources for COVID-19-related care, our findings demonstrate that burn care remained an essential service and significant reductions in patient volumes were not observed. Overall, this study will aid in future planning and management for the provision of pediatric burn resources during similar public health emergencies.

Exploring the impact of anterior chest wall scars from implantable venous ports in adolescent survivors of cancer.

BACKGROUND: In children with cancer, port-a-caths (ports) are commonly placed in the right anterior chest wall, leaving a visible scar when removed. The psychological impact of port scars on survivors is unknown. It is unclear whether alternative sites should be considered. We assessed the impact of port scars on pediatric cancer survivors to determine whether a change in location is indicated. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional single-center study of pediatric cancer survivors aged 13-18 years. A questionnaire explored participants' perceptions of their port scars. Four additional validated tools were used: Fitzpatrick scale, Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index, and a Distress Thermometer. RESULTS: Among 100 participants (median age 15.8 years [13-18], median duration since treatment 8 years [1.5-14.8]), 75 'never/occasionally' thought about their port scars, 85 were not bothered by its location and 87 would not have preferred another site. Eleven participants were highly impacted by their scars: six thought about their scar 'everyday/all the time', four were highly bothered by its location, and nine would have preferred a different location. There was an association between the desire for different scar location and how much the location bothered participants (p < 0.0001), female sex (p = 0.03) and Patient POSAS score (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: A port scar on the anterior chest wall was not a major concern for the majority of this cohort. A minority of participants were highly impacted by the scar and its location. Advance identification of those likely to be impacted by their scars may not be possible.

Pruritus in the Pediatric Burn Population.

Postburn pruritus is a significant issue that can have a devastating impact on patient quality of life. Despite its known negative impact, few studies have focused on the pediatric population. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the incidence of pruritus among pediatric burn patients as well as identify its predictive factors and commonly used treatments, including the novel use of laser therapy. A retrospective analysis of all burn patients treated at our pediatric burn center from 2009 to 2017 was conducted. The primary outcome measure was the presence or absence of pruritus at any point following the burn. One thousand seven hundred and eighty-three patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. The mean age at injury was 3.67 years (SD = 4.02) and the mean burn TBSA was 3.48% (SD = 4.81) with most burns resulting from scalds (66%). In total, 665 patients (37.3%) experienced pruritus. Following multivariable logistic regression, TBSA, age >5 years, burns secondary to fire/flame, and burn depth, were identified as significant predictors of pruritus (P < .05). Pruritus was treated with diphenhydramine (85.0%), hydroxyzine (37.3%), and gabapentin (4.2%) as well as massage (45.7%), pressure garments (20.0%), and laser therapy (8.6%). This study addresses the knowledge gap in the literature related to postburn pruritus among pediatric patients and includes one of the largest patient cohorts published to date. Moreover, the results further contribute to our understanding of postburn pruritus in children and may help us to predict which patients are most likely to be affected, so that treatment can be initiated as soon as possible.

Teaching undergraduate physical chemistry lab with kinetic analysis of COVID-19 in the United States.

A physical chemistry lab for undergraduate students described in this report is about applying kinetic models to analyze the spread of COVID-19 in the United States and obtain the reproduction numbers. The susceptible-infectious-recovery (SIR) model and the SIR-vaccinated (SIRV) model are explained to the students and are used to analyze the COVID-19 spread data from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The basic reproduction number R 0 and the real-time reproduction number R t of COVID-19 are extracted by fitting the data with the models, which explains the spreading kinetics and provides a prediction of the spreading trend in a given state. The procedure outlined here shows the differences between the SIR model and the SIRV model. The SIRV model considers the effect of vaccination which helps explain the later stages of the ongoing pandemic. The predictive power of the models is also shown giving the students some certainty in the predictions they made for the following months.

Surviving an Extensive Burn Injury Using Advanced Skin Replacement Technologies.

There have been significant improvements in the technology available for treating extensive burns in the past decade. This case presents two unique, skin replacement technologies that were used to treat an 86% surface area flame burn in a pediatric patient. A temporary dermal replacement, known as "Novosorb™ Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix" was first used to stabilize the burn injury and remained in place for approximately 3 months. Given the large burn size and lack of available donor skin for grafting, a permanent skin replacement product known as "Self-Assembled Skin Substitute (SASS)" was then utilized to cover the burns. SASS is a novel technology that was developed to replace skin as an autologous skin graft and is currently available in Canada through a clinical trial for major burns. Ultimately, the concurrent use of these two technologies allowed for the unprecedented survival of a child following an extensive and life-threatening burn injury.

Determining the Independent Risk Factors for Worse SCAR-Q Scores and Future Scar Revision Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Scar revisions have been increasing in number. Patient-reported outcome measures are one tool to aid scar modulation decision-making. The aims of this study were to determine patient, scar, and clinical risk factors for (1) low SCAR-Q Appearance, Symptom, and Psychosocial Impact scores and how this differs for children; and (2) the potential need for future scar revision surgery to better identify such patients in a clinical setting. METHODS: A multicenter international cross-sectional cohort study based on survey data of participants with traumatic, surgical, and burn scars attending plastic, hand, and burn clinics in four countries was conducted following the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist. Univariate analysis to identify risk factors and multivariable logistic analysis to select risk factors were completed. Collinearity for nonindependent factors and C statistic for model discrimination were also calculated. RESULTS: Seven hundred thirty-one participants completed the study booklet, and 546 participants (74.7 percent) had full data. Independent risk factors were determined to be a bothersome scar and perception of scarring badly for all three scales. Risk factors for self-reporting the need for future surgery included a health condition, scarring badly, scar diagnosis, prior scar revision, and low Psychosocial Impact scores. We did not identify evidence of multicollinearity. C statistics were high (0.81 to 0.84). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first multicenter international study to examine independent risk factors for low patient-reported outcome measure scores and the potential need for future scar revision surgery. Patients that perceive themselves as scarring badly and having a bothersome scar were at a higher risk of scar appearance concern, an increased symptom burden, and poorer psychosocial impact scores. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, III.

Resident Exposure to Aesthetic Surgical and Nonsurgical Procedures During Canadian Residency Program Training.

North American residency programs are transitioning to competency-based medical education (CBME) to standardize training programs, and to ensure competency of residents upon graduation. At the centre of assessment in CBME are specific surgical procedures, or procedural competencies, that trainees must be able to perform. A study previously defined 31 procedural competencies for aesthetic surgery. In this transition period, understanding current educational trends in resident exposure to these aesthetic procedures is necessary. The aim of this study was to characterize aesthetic procedures performed by Canadian plastic surgery residents during training, as well as to describe resident performance confidence levels and degree of resident involvement during those procedures. Case logs were retrieved from all 10 English-language plastic surgery programs. All aesthetic procedures were identified, and coded according to previously defined core procedural competencies (CPCs) in the aesthetic domain of plastic surgery. Data extracted from each log included the procedure, training program, resident academic year, resident procedural role, and personal competence. From July 2004 to June 2014, 6113 aesthetic procedures were logged by 55 graduating residents. Breast augmentation, mastopexy, and abdominoplasty were the most commonly performed CPCs, and residents report high levels of competence and surgical role in these procedures. Facial procedures, in particular rhinoplasty, as well as nonsurgical CPCs are associated with low exposure and personal competence levels. Canadian plastic surgery residents are exposed to most of the core aesthetic procedural competencies, but the range of procedures performed is variable. With the implementation of CBME, consideration should be given to supplementation where gaps may exist in aesthetic case exposure.

Psychometric Findings for the SCAR-Q Patient-Reported Outcome Measure Based on 731 Children and Adults with Surgical, Traumatic, and Burn Scars from Four Countries.

BACKGROUND: Each year, millions of individuals develop scars secondary to surgery, trauma, and/or burns. Scar-specific patient-reported outcome measures to evaluate outcomes are needed. To address the gap in available measures, the SCAR-Q was developed following international guidelines for patient-reported outcome measure development. This study field tested the SCAR-Q and examined its psychometric properties. METHODS: Patients aged 8 years and older with a surgical, traumatic, and/or burn scar anywhere on their face or body were recruited between March of 2017 and April of 2018 at seven hospitals in four countries. Participants answered demographic and scar questions, the Fitzpatrick Skin Typing Questionnaire, the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), and the SCAR-Q. Rasch measurement theory was used for the psychometric analysis. Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity were also examined. RESULTS: Consent was obtained from 773 patients, and 731 completed the study. Participants were aged 8 to 88 years, and 354 had surgical, 184 had burn, and 199 had traumatic scars. Analysis led to refinement of the SCAR-Q Appearance, Symptoms, and Psychosocial Impact scales. Reliability was high, with person separation index values of 0.91, 0.81, and 0.79; Cronbach alpha values of 0.96, 0.91, and 0.95; and intraclass correlation coefficient values of 0.92, 0.94, and 0.88, respectively. As predicted, correlations between POSAS scores and the Appearance and Symptom scales were higher than those between POSAS and Psychosocial Impact scale scores. CONCLUSIONS: With increasing scar revisions, a scar-specific patient-reported outcome measure is needed to measure outcomes that matter to patients from their perspective. The SCAR-Q represents a rigorously developed, internationally applicable patient-reported outcome measure that can be used to evaluate scars in research, clinical care, and quality improvement initiatives.

Canadian Plastic Surgery Resident Operative Experience in Hand Surgery.

PURPOSE: Core procedural competencies (CPCs) in hand surgery have been previously described. However, it is unknown whether plastic surgery residents receive sufficient operative experience with these procedures. This study aimed to determine whether Canadian plastic surgery residents are receiving adequate exposure to CPCs in hand surgery during residency training. METHODS: Hand surgery case logs recorded by graduating plastic surgery residents at 10 Canadian English-speaking training programs between 2004 and 2014 were reviewed from 3 databases. For each CPC in hand surgery, perceived resident role and self-competence scores were collected and analyzed. Core procedural competencies encompass core essential procedural competencies (CEPCs) and nonessential procedural competencies. RESULTS: There were 55 graduating plastic surgery residents included in the study. A total of 14,909 procedures were logged for 42 CPCs, with an average of 271 procedures/resident. When grouped by subdomain within hand surgery, procedures with the most exposure were related to traumatic finger injuries (29%) and neuropathies (22%). The least common procedures were related to flap reconstructions (0.3%) and muscle release (0.1%). Many residents reported receiving no operative experience (range, 2% to 100%) or between 1 and 10 cases of CEPCs (range, 7% to 50%). Most graduating residents (58% to 72%) did not feel competent independently performing 60% of the most common procedures. There were weak to moderate correlations between role and self-competence, and between postgraduate year and self-competence. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, many plastic surgery residents graduate from training programs with little to no exposure for over half of the CEPCs in hand surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Given the great diversity in hand surgery CPCs, it is difficult for residents to gain adequate operative experience during their residency in all of the CPCs.

Variable Experience in Microsurgery and Flap-Based Procedures Among Canadian Plastic Surgery Residents.

TITLE: Variable experience in microsurgery and flap-based procedures among Canadian plastic surgery residents. OBJECTIVE: Plastic surgery residencies are transitioning toward a competency-based education model. It is not known whether trainees can realistically achieve proficiency in microsurgical techniques during their training. This study aims to define the operative experience in the core microsurgical flap procedures among Canadian plastic surgery residents. DESIGN: Microsurgical core procedural competencies (CPCs) have been described. A retrospective review was conducted, evaluating case logs recorded by graduating plastic surgery residents at 10 Canadian English-speaking training programs between 2004 and 2014. Perceived role and competence scores were also collected and analyzed. SETTING: University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. RESULTS: Among 27 microsurgical CPCs, 2082 procedures were logged and each resident performed an average of 37.9 (±21.7) procedures. Anterolateral thigh flaps, radial forearm-based flaps, and digit replants were the most common; however, 10.9% to 14.5% of residents did not have any operative experience with these flaps. Most residents reported zero operative experience with many of the CPCs (10.9%-100%). Co-Surgeon (50%) and First Assistant (30%) were the most common roles. None of the graduating residents reported feeling competent enough to independently perform 50% of the microsurgery CPCs. There was no difference in perceived roles when programs with ≥5 residents were compared against programs with fewer trainees. There were weak to moderate correlations between role and self-perceived competence, and between Post Graduate Year and self-perceived competence. CONCLUSIONS: There is wide variation in resident operative experience in microsurgical CPCs. Many residents graduate with little to no experience in many of the core procedures. Identifying areas of deficiency may help guide curriculum development in the new competency-based education model.

Burn Care and Surgical Exposure amongst Canadian Plastic Surgery Residents: Recommendations for Transitioning to a Competency-Based Medical Education Model.

With the ongoing implementation of a competency-based medical education (CMBE) model for residency programs in North America, emphasis on the duration of training has been refocused onto ability and competence. This study aims to determine the exposure of burn-related core procedural competencies (CPCs) in Canadian Plastic Surgery Residents in order to enhance curricular development and help define its goals. A retrospective review of burn-related resident case logs encompassing all 10 English-speaking plastic surgery residency programs from 2004 to 2014 was performed, including analysis of personal competence scores and resident role by Postgraduate Year (PGY)-year. Case logs of a total of 55 graduating plastic surgery residents were included in the study. Overall, 4033 procedures in burn and burn-related care were logged, accounting for 6.8% of all procedures logged. On average, each resident logged 73 burn procedures, 99% of which were CPCs. The most frequently performed procedure was harvest and application of autograft, allograft, or xenograft, while emergent procedures such as escharotomy and compartment release were performed on average less than one time per resident. Personal competence scores as well as role of the resident (surgical responsibility) increased as PGY-year progressed during residency. Canadian plastic surgery residency programs provide adequate exposure to the majority of the scope of burn care and surgery. However, infrequently encountered but critical procedures such as escharotomy and fasciotomy may require supplementation through dedicated educational opportunities. CMBE should identify these gaps in learning through facilitation of resident competency evaluation. With consideration for the amount of exposure to burn-related CPCs as identified, plastic surgery residency programs can work toward achieving competency in all aspects of burn care and surgery prior to the completion of residency.

Surgical Fires and Burns: A 5-Year Analysis of Medico-legal Cases.

Surgical fires and unintended intraoperative burns cause serious patient harm, yet surveillance data are lacking in Canada. Medico-legal data provide unique descriptions of these events which can inform burn prevention strategies. We extracted 5 years of data on closed (2012-2016) medico-legal cases involving surgical fires and burns from the database of our organization which, in 2016, provided medico-legal support to >93,000 Canadian physicians. We performed a retrospective descriptive analysis of contributing factors using an in-house coding system and case reviews. We identified 53 eligible burn cases: 26 from thermal sources (49.1%), 16 from fires (30.2%), 5 from chemical sources (9.4%), and 6 from undetermined sources (11.3%). Common burn sources were electrosurgical equipment, lasers, lighting, and improper temperatures (causing thermal burns), cautery or lasers combined with supplemental oxygen and/or a flammable fuel source (causing fire), and improperly applied solutions including antiseptics (causing chemical burns). Nontechnical factors also contributed to patient outcomes, such as nonadherence to protocols (15 cases, 28.3%), failures in surgical team communication (3 cases, 5.7%), and lost situational awareness leading to delays in recognizing and treating burns (7 cases, 13.2%). This retrospective study highlights a need for improved surgical safety interventions to address surgical fires and burns. These interventions could include: effectively implemented surgical safety protocols, surgical team communication strategies, and raising awareness about preventing, diagnosing, and managing surgical burns.

Psychosocial and quality of life impact of scars in the surgical, traumatic and burn populations: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the fact that millions of scars affect individuals annually, little is known about their psychosocial impact and overall quality of life (QOL) on individuals. Scars from multiple aetiologies may cause psychiatric and emotional disturbances, can limit physical functioning and increase costs to the healthcare system. The purpose of this protocol is to describe the methodological considerations that will guide the completion of a scoping review that will summarise the extent, range and nature of psychosocial health outcomes and QOL of scars of all aetiologies. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A modified Arksey and O'Malley (2005) framework will be completed, namely having ongoing consultation between experts from the beginning of the process, then (1) identifying the research question/s, (2) identifying the relevant studies from electronic databases and grey literature, with (3) study selection and (4) charting of data by two independent coders, and (5) collating, summarising and reporting data. Experts will include a health information specialist (TAW), scar expert (JSF), scoping review consultant (SCK), as well as at least two independent coders (NZ, AM). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval will not be sought for this scoping review. We plan to disseminate this research through publications, presentations and meetings with relevant stakeholders.

Quantification of Pediatric Burn Scar Stiffness Using Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Ultrasound Elastography.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the stiffness of hypertrophic scars using acoustic radiation force impulse ultrasound elastography. Sixteen pediatric patients with hypertrophic scars resulting from burn injuries participated in this study (mean age: 5.13, standard deviation: 3.20). Values for the elastic modulus (E) of scar and control sites were obtained. Scarred areas were found to be almost four times stiffer than control sites (scar Emean = 39.29 kPa compared with control Emean = 10.19 kPa) (p = 0.0004). Correlations between scar stiffness and clinician-reported subjective scar scale scores were not observed (rs = 0.30, p = 0.27 and rs = 0.25, p = 0.35 respectively). We found that acoustic radiation force impulse imaging can discriminate between hypertrophic scars and normal skin and should be considered a potentially valuable tool in the armamentarium of objective scar measures. Future research should focus on evaluating the technology's ability to detect scar change over time in order to determine responsiveness to treatment.