Comparing the Efficacy of Diluted Lidocaine Solution and Placebo in Reducing Pain Perception During Burn Wound Dressing Change.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 0.08% diluted lidocaine solution during and after wound dressing procedures for patients with burn injuries. Fifty burn patients aged 18-60 years, with burns ranging from 30% to 60%, were divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received dressings diluted with 0.08% lidocaine solution, while the control group received a placebo. Vital signs were continuously monitored before, during, and after the application of new dressings. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) checklist before and after the dressing change in both groups. The study included 25 participants in the intervention group with a mean age of 40.2 ± 6.5 and 25 participants in the control group with a mean age of 39.1 ± 6.8. The groups were comparable in terms of baseline characteristics, including gender, age, weight, height, body mass index, percentage and degree of burns, as well as average morphine intake. No significant differences were observed in vital signs or pain scores before and after dressing changes between the 2 groups. However, the intervention group reported significantly lower pain scores during the dressing change compared to the control group (P < .001). Diluted lidocaine solution during wound dressing procedures can reduce pain in burn patients. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to establish the safety and efficacy of this technique. This study suggests that lidocaine can be a useful tool in the management of pain during dressing changes for burn patients.

Choosing Appropriate Technique for Nasal Reconstruction in Challenging Cases of Panfacial Burn: Treatment Algorithm.

The nose is one of the most challenging facial parts to reconstruct. Its asymmetries, defects, or disharmonies are easily noticeable. The complex contours, highlights, shadows, and special shape of its subunits make nasal reconstruction more difficult in panfacial burn than that of nonburned ones. This retrospective study was conducted at Zare Hospital. Twenty-five panfacial burn cases with nasal defects were studied from 2010 to 2019. Profile photos were manipulated by Adobe Photoshop. Based on the difference between the burn-related shortened nasal length and the expected photoshopped one, the severity of the short nose was detected, and the strategy of the surgery was determined. Of the 25 cases, 10 cases with normal nasal length and projection, or mild short nose with minimal alar rim, tip and/or columellar defect underwent nasal reconstruction with skin and/or composite graft. Nine patients with normal nasal length or mild to moderate short nose but moderate to severe alar defect underwent reconstruction with turndown flap plus skin and/or composite graft. Pre-expanded forehead flap (n = 1) and delayed scarred or skin grafted forehead flap (n = 5) were used for six patients with severe short nose defect. There are several procedural alternatives for the reconstruction of burn-related mild to moderate nasal deformity. For severe and deep panfacial burn, delayed forehead flap seems safe with acceptable color and texture harmony. Our designed algorithm could potentially improve the selection of proper nasal reconstruction techniques and assist novice surgeons.