Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B Greber.
The charts of patients with burns covering more than 40 per cent of the body surface area (BSA) who were admitted to the Burn Unit of the Soroka Medical Center, Beersheva, Israel, between the years 1964 and 1988 were reviewed for mortality rate and causes of deaths. The factors affecting survival are reviewed and analysed.
The 10th case of a primary epidural extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma is presented. The treatment and the relevant literature are reviewed.
Although few women sustain thermal injuries during pregnancy, when pregnancy is complicated by thermal injury a clear management scheme plus a team approach is needed to provide optimal care both to the foetus and mother. The clinical course of eight pregnant women treated in our burn unit is presented. The relationship between the burn area, gestational age at treatment and prognosis is analysed. Active surgical treatment is advocated.
The origin and nature of the maqua (the Arabic therapeutic burn) is presented together with our clinical experience of patients previously treated by this traditional method. Maquas are small deep burns inflicted in areas either in proximity to a diseased organ or in points related traditionally to the original basic problem. These relationships may be rooted in historical ties between old Arab medicine and traditional Oriental, antique Egyptian, and Greco-Roman medicines. Maquas alone only rarely present a threat to the patient, but in many cases they may serve as an indicator of the original underlying disease. This and other folklore treatment modalities, together with the healers themselves, should be acknowledged by us, as markers for health problems or maybe for potential healing methods and doctor-patient relationships.
Our experience with early tangential excision and grafting for burns of the hands is presented. The advantages of the early surgical approach are proven by comparing this technique with the 'old' conservative treatment in two different populations. It is clearly concluded that early excision and grafting, combined with adequate physiotherapy and pressure garments, offer favourable results for the burned hand. Early excision of the burn eschar, before the appearance of contamination, may prevent infection, long and unfavourable delay in healing, scar formation with its incapacitating sequellae and a non-aesthetic appearance. Such a delay was characteristic of the 'conservative period', which was dominated by 'fibroblast', 'good granulation tissue', and hypertrophic scarring. Early surgery, as described and advocated here, shortens the healing time, lessens the hospital stay, minimizes reconstructive surgery and leads to a good functioning hand with a reasonable aesthetic appearance, enabling the affected patient to return quickly to work and normal routine life.
Splinting in burns is by no means a new subject, but this paper tries to demonstrate a new approach using new materials and sometimes humour. Conventional burn splints, dynamic and static, have been described in the past. All the following splints are made either with Mediplast, a new Israeli product, or Hexcelite.
Eight waiters sustained severe burns from flaming food at a wedding party. Most of the burns involved the face and upper chest, some victims needed skin grafts especially on their lower extremities. The presented cases emphasize the hazard of serving ignited food and drinks without taking appropriate safety measures. We support those who recommend legislation for mandatory safety guidelines, being convinced that most of these burns can be prevented.