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Background Current scientific evidence on the effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) as adjunctive treatment for postburn scars is scarce. However preliminary evidence, indicates it might prove a useful tool. Materials and methods A prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted from February 2017 to February 2019. Patients with postburn scars were divided into two groups with twenty patients per group. The control group received the standard treatment for postburn scars. The ESWT group received the standard treatment and treatment of postburn scars with ESWT 512 impulses of 0.15 mJ/mm2 in each session, twice per week for 4 weeks. We assessed the appearance of scar with the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), pruritus and pain with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before the start of the treatment and at 2 weeks and 5 months after the treatment. Results Both groups showed improvements in all variables through the study. However, these improvements were only statistically significant for the VSS at the 6th month for the control group and VSS and VAS pain and pruritus for the ESWT group. Nonetheless the results failed to show statistically significant differences between the ESWT and the control group neither at two weeks after treatment nor at 5 months after treatment. Conclusion Our study questions the relevance of ESWT as adjunctive treatment for postburn scars as far as outward appearance, pain and pruritus as end-results are concern. Nonetheless, further studies are required to accurately assess the potential benefits of ESWT as an adjunctive treatment for postburn scars.

Introduction Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), first described in the eighties for the treatment of urolithiasis, has also been applied in other fields such as orthopaedics and chronic wound care. Recently it has also been used in the treatment of burns and its sequelae since several studies suggest it could be an important tool in the conservative management of these conditions. The aim of this article is to review the literature for published evidence on the use of ESWT for the treatment of acute burn patients and its sequelae and to elaborate a brief report on the current state of the matter. Material and methods We carried on a search on PUBMED database and Cochrane database with the following terms: (‘burns’ [title/abstract] OR ‘burn’ [title/abstract]) AND “shock wave” ([title/abstract]). For an optimal reporting of the studies found we followed the PRISMA statement. Results This search found 34 articles from which only 15 were actually related to the use of ESWT in burn patients. From these 15 articles, 7 involved the use of ESWT in the treatment of acute burns, 6 related to its application in post-burn scars, 1 in the treatment of heterotopic ossification and 1 was about the use of ESWT in skin-graft donor site. Except for the latter, all of them were carefully reviewed. Conclusion Scientific evidence on the use of ESWT for the treatment of burn patients is weak due to the paucity of studies and their low quality. However, ESWT seems to be a promising tool in this field and therefore more high-quality trials should be conducted.

Background The worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, is the defining global health crisis of our time. Spain has had one of the highest burdens of COVID-19 worldwide. During this period, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital Burn Center (Barcelona) has faced a unique challenge: supporting the hospital response against COVID whilst continued offering an optimal care to the burn patient. Objective The aim of this study is to characterize the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of acute burn patients who received urgent health care or admission to the our Burn Center during the mandatory confinement period in Spain forced by the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods We analyzed the medical records of burn patients who received urgent care and/or admission to our Burn Center during the mandatory confinement period in Spain (Period 1: from March 14th to May 9th, 2020) and during the same period of the last year (Period 2: from March 14th to May 9th, 2019). Both groups were compared in order to find differences in the epidemiologic profile of burned patients. Results A total of 350 burns cases were analyzed. A 36% reduction in the number of emergency department visits was identified during Period 1. However, we found an increase in the rate of hospital admissions in Period 1 (20% of the burn cases) compared with Period 2 (13% of the burn cases). Seventy-six burn-related primary admissions were analyzed: 37 patients were admitted during Period 1 and 39 patients during Period 2. No differences were found between the two periods in the proportion of patients that underwent surgical treatment: 59.5% of patients admitted during Period 1 and 61.5% of patients admitted during Period 2. A statistically significant increase was noted in the rate of paediatric (aged 0–16 years old) admissions during Period 1 (40.54%, n = 15) compared to Period 2 (20.5%, n = 8). Among paediatric patients, an increase in the rate of surgical procedures was noted in Period 1 (47% of children), compared with Period 2 (37% of children). Proportion of patients that were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit was higher among burn children admitted during period 1 (46.7%, n = 7) than those admitted during Period 2 (25%, n = 2). Among the 37 patients admitted during the lockdown period, two positive COVID-19 patients were confirmed. Conclusions This study gives an overview of the clinical and epidemiologic profile of burned patients during the stringent lockdown in Spain forced by the COVID-19 epidemic. Our data shows a stable trend in the number of burn-related admissions and burn related-surgeries during the confinement period. A significant increase in the rate of burn children admitted and an increase in the severity of injuries in this population is noted. These data must be taken in account in the development of strategies to ensure the maintenance of Burn Centers function in extremely situations such as the current epidemic. A lack of effective burn prevention campaigns in our environment has been noted and the development of focused prevention strategies is a priority.

Patients with major burn injury undergo a series of pathophysiologic changes that begin with a systemic inflammatory response and coagulation abnormalities, similar to those experienced by patients with sepsis or severe trauma. Coagulation changes in patients with burns are generally characterized by procoagulant abnormalities, but alterations in fibrinolysis and anticoagulation factors have also been observed. Around 40% of patients with major burn show changes on standard coagulation tests, and these have been related to the severity of the lesions, smoke inhalation, and administration of intensive fluid resuscitation therapy. Current surgical techniques for debridement of burn lesions are aggressive and associated with considerable blood loss. A fast-acting selective enzymatic debriding agent based on bromelain has been recently developed. NexoBrid is indicated for removing eschar in adults with deep partial- and full-thickness thermal burns. A potential effect of oral bromelain on hemostasis has been described, but it is uncertain whether NexoBrid application has a clinically relevant impact in this regard. We present the clinical case of a patient with burns who showed a coagulation abnormality shortly after NexoBrid use.

Introducción y Objetivo: El desbridamiento precoz es la base del tratamiento de las quemaduras. La retirada de la escara durante las primeras 72 horas es la mejor opción para reducir la estancia hospitalaria y los eventos infecciosos. Sin embargo, en muchas ocasiones se compromete la dermis viable necesaria para obtener los mejores resultados estéticos y funcionales, obligando a injertar el lecho. Hay numerosa evidencia acerca de la reducción de las tasas de injerto, la pérdida hemática y el número de intervenciones cuando se utiliza un desbridante enzimático, NexoBrid®. El objetivo de esta publicación es establecer una guía clínica basada en la opinión de los expertos españoles. Material y Método: Se diseñó un panel de 7 expertos de las principales Unidades de Quemados españolas, con más de 350 pacientes tratados, que discutió las diferentes fases del tratamiento con Nexo-Brid® para obtener una guía clínica de consenso acerca de la indicación, uso y manejo del desbridamiento enzimático. Resultados: Se alcanzó un alto nivel de consenso, con más del 70% de acuerdo en cada una de las fases de tratamiento. Todos los aspectos del tratamiento con NexoBrid® fueron discutidos durante la reunión, así como las indicaciones y limitaciones de su uso, incluyendo todas las nuevas evidencias publicadas hasta el momento. También las diversas opciones utilizadas por los diferentes centros de quemados españoles, alcanzando una recomendación global sobre su uso. Conclusiones: Se redactó un documento como guía clínica preliminar sobre el uso de NexoBrid® hasta que se creen nuevas guías basadas en evidencia. No existe ningún otro consenso similar publicado hasta el momento.

Ears are special and unique structures that, if damaged, are key difficult to reconstruct. They are often underestimated during the acute treatment of burns. However, thermal injury of relatively moderate proportions can irreparably alter their shape and appearance. The usual management of auricular burns includes either conservative topical treatment, skin grafting with or without dermal substitutes and ear amputation during the acute phase or delayed reconstructive techniques for the treatment of secuelae. Herein we present our experience with a revolving-door (RD) flap used to cover a defect concerning the antihelical fold as a single stage procedure for the acute treatment of auricular-conchal burns.

Although severely burned patients are at a high risk of developing intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH: IAP>12 mmHg) and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (ACS) (IAP ≥ 20 mmHg), few data about its incidence and prevalence is available. Our aim was to determine the incidence and prevalence of IAH and ACS in patients with severe burns in our geographical setting. A pilot prospective, observational study was performed at the Burns Unit of the Plastic Surgery Department in Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona), during a 12-month period. All patients with age ≥ 18 years old and burns >20% of the total body surface area (TBSA) were considered for inclusion. Patients who did not require urinary catheterization via the urethra were excluded. All patients included were followed during the first five days from their admission. Results are expressed as median (interquartile range) or frequency (percentage). During the study period, 303 patients were admitted to the Burns Unit. Twenty-five patients were included in the study (21 [84%] male, 4 [16%] female; age 42 [30-69 years]; TBSA burned 33 [25-58]%; all patients presented deep second-degree and/or third-degree burns). Eighteen (72%) patients met criteria for IAH, but only one (4%) developed ACS. The incidence of IAH and ACS was 0.56 and 0.04 cases/patient-day, respectively. Patients with IAH presented higher number of organs failure (2 [0-2.2] vs 0 [0-0]; p = 0.03). Patients with >20% TBSA burned presented a very high prevalence of IAH. Development of organ failure occurred even at moderately increased values of IAP. In this scenario, monitoring of IAP is the first step for establishing the importance of IAH/ACS in this patient population.

This report concerns 16 cases of patients admitted to our burns unit, between May 1997 and June 2003, for burns caused by the explosion of the heating system in their vehicles. In 15 of these cases, the vehicle in question was the same; the Renault Express van (P < 0.0001 in a Poisson test). While driving their vehicle, the patients suffered burns to the lower extremities and the genitals which in most cases, required surgery. Three patients suffered accidents after the scalding, due to loss of control of their vehicles. This type of injury is associated with significant complications.