Minimally invasive burn reconstruction with subcutaneous scar contracture release.

Background: Scar contracture bands after burns are frequent problems that cause discomfort and physical limitation. This study investigates the efficacy of a minimally invasive contracture band release technique (MICBR) inspired by closed platysmotomy.

Methods: Patients with burn scars treated with MICBR in our center were included retrospectively.

Epidermal-cell-based therapy as an adjunct to healing second degree burns-A randomized controlled pilot study.

Background: Healing of partial-thickness (2a and 2b) burns is notoriously unpredictable as far as healing time, scarring and (hypo)pigmentation is concerned. Epidermal blister grafting is an autologous grafting technique involving transfer of epidermal islands without dermal elements. Cellutome™ is an FDA-acknowledged epidermal harvesting device.

A 6-Year Experience of Laser Treatments for Burn Scars in a Regional Burn Center-Safety, Efficacy, and Quality Improvement.

Laser treatments have long been used as a treatment method for burn scars. Since 2012, more than 1800 laser treatments were performed at Lehigh Valley Health Network Burn Center, far exceeding any previous cohort in studies exploring laser treatments for burn scars. Although previous research has looked at improving scar appearance and physiology with laser treatments, very few have focused on safety.

Assessment of Hair Density and Sub-epidermal Tissue Thickness in Burn Scars Using High-Definition Ultrasound Imaging.

Burn scars show significant differences in structure, pigment, and hair density/sparsity from unburned skin, yet no formal documentation of these changes can be found in the literature. Evaluation of these differences is essential to assessing future intervention outcomes. The study was a prospective controlled clinical trial.

Prospective Evaluation of Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment of Mature Burn Scars.

The authors conducted a prospective study of fractional CO2 laser treatment of mature burn scars, comparing objective and subjective scar measurements evaluating at least one treatment and one control scar on the same patient pre- and post treatments. After institutional review board approval, burn survivors with mature blatant burn scars were invited to enter the study. A series of three fractional CO2 laser treatments was performed in an office setting, using topical anesthetic cream, at 40 to 90 mJ, 100 to 150 spots per cm(2).

Effect of subcutaneous epinephrine/saline/local anesthetic versus saline-only injection on split-thickness skin graft donor site perfusion, healing, and pain.

The technique for split-thickness skin graft harvest varies among surgeons. Even though there is scientific evidence that the subcutaneous injection of modified tumescent solution reduces blood loss during burn surgery, the technique has not been unanimously adapted because of, in part, fear of healing retardation. This study prospectively examines the effect of tumescent injection on donor site perfusion, healing, and pain.

Exploration of nonsurgical scar modification options: can the irregular surface of matured mesh graft scars be smoothed with microdermabrasion?

The purpose of this study was to determine, in principle, whether microdermabrasion can alter waffle-pattern (meshed split-thickness skin graft) burn scars after scar maturation. Matured waffle-pattern mesh-graft scars were treated with multiple microdermabrasion sessions over the course of a year (maximum 20). Before and after treatment, the treated scars and the control scar on the same patient were assessed with subjective and objective scar assessment tools (scar scales, cutometer [elasticity], laser Doppler flowmeter [vascularity], Semmes-Weinstein filaments [sensation], and high-resolution ultrasound [thickness]).

Do hybrid simulator-generated metrics correlate with content-valid outcome measures?

Background: Hybrid simulators provide objective metrics for laparoscopic task performance. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between hybrid simulator-generated metrics and content-valid outcome measures.

Methods: Residents underwent training with a previously validated 5-task simulation model (5-TSM).