Paradigm Shift in Treatment Strategies for Second-Degree Burns Using a Caprolactone Dressing (Suprathel®)? A 15-Year Pediatric Burn Center Experience in 2084 Patients

Background: Thermal injuries represent a highly relevant epidemiologic problem with 11 million individuals affected globally each year, of which around 2.75 million are children. Different approaches to the conservative treatment of second-degree burns have been widely discussed in the existing literature. One method that has attracted increasing attention is the use of caprolactone dressings. This paper describes a study involving the therapeutic management of 2084 pediatric patients suffering from mixed superficial and deep dermal second-degree burns who received comprehensive expert treatment using caprolactone membranes at the pediatric hospital AUF DER BULT. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the frequency and effect of caprolactone membrane usage on children who were admitted to the pediatric hospital between 2002 and 2016 with mixed second-degree burns. The number of dressing changes under general anesthesia and the requirement for split thickness skin grafting were monitored and recorded. In addition, a cost comparison analysis of different treatment modalities was performed. Results: This retrospective study involved 2084 children who had been treated for mixed superficial and deep dermal burns between 2002 and 2016 using either caprolactone dressing (Suprathel®) (study group; n = 1154) or an alternative dressing material (control group; n = 930). Of the patients in the study group, 91.74% (n = 1053) were treated conservatively compared to 76.05% of the control group patients, meaning that 8.26% (n = 101) of the study group patients required skin grafting, compared to 23.95% (n = 223) in the control group. Additionally, the number of procedures under general anesthesia per patient was found to be 54.3% lower among all patients treated with caprolactone dressing (1.75 procedures per patient) compared to the entire control group (3.22 procedures per patient). In the subgroups, patients treated conservatively with caprolactone dressing required 1.42 procedures per patient compared to 2.25 procedures per patient in patients with alternative wound treatment. When split thickness skin grafting was necessary, 1.2 times as many procedures were performed on patients with alternative dressing compared to those treated with caprolactone dressing. Finally, the cost per patient was considerably lower in the conservative therapy group in comparison to the group that consisted of patients undergoing operative therapy with split thickness skin grafting. Conclusions: Caprolactone dressings were found to be beneficial for children who reported with mixed superficial and deep dermal burns. Specifically, they reduced the need for skin transplantation, the number of dressing changes under general anesthesia, and the treatment costs.

Expansion potential of skin grafts with novel I-shaped auxetic incisions

Severe burn injures lead to millions of fatalities every year due to lack of skin replacements. While skin is a very limited and expensive entity, split thickness skin grafting, which involves the projection of a parallel incision pattern on a small section of healthy excised skin, is typically employed to increase the expansion and cover a larger burn site. To date, the real expansion capacity of such grafts are low (<3 times) and insufficient for treatment of severe burn injuries. In this study, novel I-shaped auxetic incision patterns, which are known to exhibit high negative Poisson’s ratios, have been tested on the skin to investigate their expansion potential. Fourteen two-layer skin graft models with varying incision pattern parameters (i.e., length, spacing, and orientation) were developed using finite element modelling and tested under uniaxial and biaxial tensile loads. The Poisson’s ratio, meshing ratios, and induced stresses were quantified across all models. Graft models tested uniaxially along the orthogonal directions indicated opposite trends in generated Poisson’s ratios, as the length of the I-shape incisions were increased. Biaxially, with a symmetric and closely spaced I-shape pattern, graft meshing ratios up to 15.65 were achieved without overstressing the skin. Overall, the findings from the study indicated that expansion potentials much higher than that of traditional skin grafts can be achieved with novel I-shaped auxetic skin grafts, which would be indispensable for covering large wounds in severe burn injuries.

MIDDLE PATH REGIMEN FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF TRAUMATIC DISLOCATION OF KNEE JOINT WITH VASCULAR DEFICIT.

Background: Dislocation of the knee joint is one of the most under-reported orthopaedic emergencies due to its ability to undergo spontaneous reduction. It carries a high risk of involving the popliteal artery and peroneal nerve both acutely, or in the long term. Due to this catastrophic potential of the condition, it has been well established that it warrants prompt diagnosis and management. It may be secondary to ultra-low, low or high velocity trauma which makes every dislocation case unique due to involvement of different joint structures, capsule or fractures of the articulating bones. A broad spectrum of treatment modalities (both conservative and surgical) has been documented for this condition, with the latter showing better results across most studies. In developing countries like India, the nancial chasm is relatively bigger with a major chunk of the population unable to bear the cost of complete surgical management. Objective: To assess the functional outcome in patients with frank knee dislocations with multiligamentous injuries and vascular decit treated by a middle path regimen of an extended period of external xator and immobilization. Method: A prospective study was undertaken from January 2018 to July 2020 involving 10 patients with knee joint dislocations with vascular decit and multiligamentous injury, treated by an extended period of external xator application and immobilization. Fasciotomy was done wherever needed, in association with split thickness skin grafting. The assessments were made using Lysholm knee scoring scale (LKSS), International Knee Documentation Committee Scores (IKDC), range of motion (ROM), antero- posterior tibial translation (AP translation) and overall patient satisfaction on every follow-up. Results: The mean LKSS score was 78.3±6.23, mean IKDC score was 68.17±5.34, mean ROM progressively increased to 135.8⁰ with a mean extension lag of 2.2⁰, while the mean AP tibial translation was noted to be 9.16 mm. No poor result or complication was reported. Conclusion: The middle path regimen provides an affordable alternative for providing a stable knee to patients who are ill-affording and are expected to have a sedentary lifestyle, without indulging into rigorous activities

Reconstruction of Lower Extremity Necrotizing Fasciitis with Tibialis Anterior Musculofascial Flap and Skin Graft: A Case Report

Necrotizing fasciitis of the lower extremities results in large tissue defects, and most cases require reconstruction using skin grafts or flaps. We describe a 61-year-old man who developed necrotizing fasciitis of the right lower leg and septic shock, following a traumatic injury to his leg. Wound culture yielded methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Extensive debridement was performed four times along with the use of appropriate antibiotics. After 2 weeks, physical examination showed an open wound (approximately 30×20 cm in size) with partial tibial bone exposure. Subsequently, the patient underwent successful reconstruction using a tibialis anterior musculofascial flap and split-thickness skin grafting. The tibialis anterior muscle was bihalved and pivoted to cover the exposed bone surface. The patient was without pain and was able to successfully perform daily activities at the 15-month follow-up. This case report highlights the utility of a bihalved tibialis anterior musculofascial flap for lower extremity reconstruction, particularly in patients for whom free flap transfers are unviable.

Shoe-Lace Technique Hasten Delayed Primary Closure In Fasciotomy Wound For Forearm Compartment Syndrome

We report a case of acute compartment syndrome of the forearm in a 51-year-old man with open fracture distal third radius (Gustilo I). Decompressive fasciotomy was performed promptly. Complete progressive closure of the wound without split-thickness skin grafting was achieved using a shoe-lace technique: silastic vessel loop were interlaced held together with skin staplers placed at the edge of the fasciotomy wound and were then tightened daily. Delayed primary closure of the fasciotomy wound was performed after 8 days post fasciotomy with complete opposition of skin edges without tension. Shoelace closure is a good option for atraumatic fasciotomy wound closure with good cosmesis result.

Long-term experience with a collagen-elastin scaffold in combination with split-thickness skin grafts for the treatment of full-thickness soft tissue defects: improvements in outcome—a retrospective cohort study and case report

Purpose The management of severe soft tissue injuries to the extremities with full-thickness wounds poses a challenge to the patient and surgeon. Dermal substitutes are used increasingly in these defects. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the type of injury on the success rate of Matriderm® (MD)-augmented split-thickness skin grafting, as well as the role of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in preconditioning of the wounds, with a special focus on the reduction of the bioburden. Methods In this study, 45 wounds (44 affecting lower extremities (97.7%)), resulting from different types of injuries: soft tissue (ST), soft tissue complications from closed fracture (F), and open fracture (OF) in 43 patients (age 55.0 ± 18.2 years, 46.7% female), were treated with the simultaneous application of MD and split-thickness skin grafting. The study was designed as a retrospective cohort study from March 2013 to March 2020. Patients were stratified into three groups: ST, F, and OF. Outcome variables were defined as the recurrence of treated wound defects, which required revision surgery, and the reduction of bioburden in terms of reduction of number of different bacterial strains. For statistical analysis, Student’s t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Mann–Whitney U test, and Pearson’s chi-squared test were used. Results There was no significant difference in the rate of recurrence in the different groups (F: 0%; OF: 11.1%; ST: 9.5%). The duration of VAC therapy significantly differed between the groups (F: 10.8 days; OF: 22.7 days; ST: 12.6 days (p < 0.05)). A clinically significant reduction of bioburden was achieved with NPWT (bacterial shift (mean (SD), F: − 2.25 (1.89); OF: − 1.9 (1.37); ST: − 2.6 (2.2)). Conclusion MD-augmented split-thickness skin grafting is an appropriate treatment option for full-thickness wounds with take rates of about 90%. The complexity of an injury significantly impacts the duration of the soft tissue treatment but does not have an influence on the take rate. NPWT leads to a relevant reduction of bioburden and is therefore an important part in the preconditioning of full-thickness wounds.