Objective Burn Scar Assessment in Clinical Practice Using the Cutometer©: Introduction and Validation of a Standardized Measurement Protocol.

An objective burn scar assessment is essential to informed therapeutic decision-making and to monitor scar development over time. However, widely employed scar rating scales show poor inter-rater reliability. For this study we developed a standardized measurement protocol for the Cutometer© applicable for objective burn scar assessment in everyday clinical practice.

Evaluation of an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-based rehabilitation for thermal burn injuries: a prospective non-randomized design.

Background: Severe burn injuries result in relevant restrictions of physical capacity as well as psychological and social integrity and require a specialized rehabilitation. There is a common agreement, among national as well as international burn associations, that burn rehabilitation is a complex, dynamic process which needs an interdisciplinary and specialized treatment team. There is wide agreement that more research is needed in this field.

Validation of the Ludwigshafen German Version of the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief.

The Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B) is one of the most commonly used instruments to measure quality of life after burns. Our aim was to establish and to provide a German version of the BSHS-B for all German-speaking burn facilities. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the original English version into the German language was conducted.

Efficacy of a burn-specific cognitive-behavioral group training.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed cognitive-behavioral group training, specifically designed for burn patients.

Method: In a multicenter-study data pre- and post treatment and at 6-month follow-up were obtained from participants of the group program (Intervention group, IG; n=86) and a control group who received treatment as usual (TAU; n=128). Outcome variables of psychological distress, resources and health-related quality of life of both groups were compared using linear mixed models.

Quality of life and predictors of long-term outcome after severe burn injury.

The aim of this study was to identify the long-term quality of life after severe burn injury. In a prospective longitudinal design, N = 265 burn patients were examined 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after burn injury. A multilevel approach was used to measure stability and change in self-reported health status.

Emotional distress and psychosocial resources in patients recovering from severe burn injury.

Emotional distress as well as psychosocial resources in 55 patients with burn injuries was assessed during acute and follow-up treatment. Results showed significantly greater values of emotional distress among patients when compared with norms of the general population. As well as higher levels of general psychopathology, particularly prevalent were anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic symptoms.