Deep cutaneous lesions such as burns, traumas or ulcers are all conditions characterized by a massive loss of dermis, bringing several important consequences. For the treatment of these conditions, the evolution of material science has made available new dressings based on natural and synthetic polymers. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is involved in many steps of the wound healing process, such as inflam...

The thermographic assessment of burns using infrared imaging has previously been shown to be a useful aid in the estimation of burn depth. In this study, thermographic images of burns, obtained from 65 patients over a 4-year period, were reviewed. An infrared transparent, water-impermeable membrane was used as a wound cover to abolish evaporative cooling artefacts. Single images were obtained f...

Early escharectomy in deep partial- and full-thickness burns of the hand has proved to have an advantage over late surgical treatment. It provides an improved functional and cosmetic result. Hand deformities, the need for secondary reconstructive procedures, and morbidity are significantly reduced. In our clinic we prefer to use early escharectomy in all full-thickness burns of the hand unless ...

A critical need exists for a robust method that enables early discrimination between superficial-partial and deep-partial thickness burn wounds. In this study, we report on the use of laser speckle imaging (LSI), a simple, non-invasive, optical imaging modality, to measure acute blood flow dynamics in a preclinical burn model. We used a heated brass comb to induce burns of varying severity to n...

During her stay in Pakistan, a Norwegian female patient, in her forties, suffered burns to 30 – 35 % of her body surface following ignition with inflammable liquid. She was admitted to a local hospital the same day. On the third day she was transferred to the Burn Care Centre at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad. She was found to have deep burns on her face, neck, back, up...

Modern burn care is based on operative wound management. The evidence is clear that prompt excision and closure can be lifesaving for patients even with large burns. Facial burns that are full-thickness need grafting. Deep dermal facial burns need surgery in the third week post-burn. Deep burns to the eyelids should be excised and grafted early in order to prevent cicatricial ectropion and corn...

OBJECTIVE To describe burns seen at the largest hospital in Malawi. METHODS In a prospective study conducted at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi, a series of twelve accidental burns was analysed over a four-week period. RESULTS Hot water was the commonest source of burns (6 out of 12). Open-fire and petroleum lamp accidents were the commonest cause of burns among epileptic...

early wound excision and grafting of burn wounds is regarded not only as the method of choice in speeding up the healing process in deep burns, but also limits contracture and infection, on the other hand, smoking has generally been implicated in the delay of the healing process in a variety of surgical procedures, in this study we report the outcome of a cross-sectional study of all the 395 me...