The optimal duration and delay of first aid treatment for deep partial thickness burn injuries.
Using our porcine model of deep dermal partial thickness burn injury, various durations (10min, 20min, 30min or 1h) and delays (immediate, 10min, 1h, 3h) of 15 degrees C running water first aid were applied to burns and compared to untreated controls. The subdermal temperatures were monitored during the treatment and wounds observed weekly for 6 weeks, for re-epithelialisation, wound surface area and cosmetic appearance. At 6 weeks after the burn, tissue biopsies were taken of the scar for histological analysis. Results showed that immediate application of cold running water for 20min duration is associated with an improvement in re-epithelialisation over the first 2 weeks post-burn and decreased scar tissue at 6 weeks. First aid application of cold water for as little as 10min duration or up to 1h delay still provides benefit.
Cuttle
Leila
L
Royal Children's Hospital Burns and Trauma Research Group, University of Queensland, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia. L.Cuttle@uq.edu.au
Kempf
Margit
M
Liu
Pei-Yun
PY
Kravchuk
Olena
O
Kimble
Roy M
RM
D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D001831:Body Temperature; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005392:First Aid; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D014867:Water