Biomedical subjects

R E Zeitlin

Publications and source records attributed to R E Zeitlin.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Long-term functional sequelae after paediatric burns.

Ninety-one patients with at least 5 per cent (median 10 per cent, maximum 50 per cent) total body surface area (TBSA) burns were clinically re-examined on average 17.3 yr after primary injury. The patients had sustained mostly superficial dermal scalds. The most common long-term functional sequelae were impaired tanning (n = 67; 77.7 per cent), diminished tactile sensibility (n = 50; 56.2 per cent) and increased reddening (n = 14; 15.6 per cent) either in the sun or the Finnish sauna. Five patients (6.3 per cent) had limited joint mobility and one patient experienced constrictive scars on her trunk during pregnancy. Scar appearance was significantly associated with impaired tactile sense (chi 2 = 11.87, DF = 2, p < 0.01; Spearman's R = 0.27, p = 0.03). Surprisingly, better scar appearance showed more disturbed touch sensation. The primary operative treatment (early excision and split skin grafting) was not associated with diminished sense of touch (chi 2 = 1.24, DF = 1, p = 0.27). Neither were scar appearance and poor tanning significantly associated (chi 2 = 1.63, DF = 1, p = 0.4). Only three patients suffered no functional detriments. In this series the harmful functional consequences were generally slight. The aetiological background (scalds) and the relatively small, superficially burned skin area probably explains the good late outcome. However, since nearly every burn-injured child will have some signs of the injury in adulthood, children present a constant challenge in the effort for better burn care and prevention.

Abdominal Injuries↗

PubMed1997

Long-term psychosocial sequelae of paediatric burns.

Ninety-one patients burn-injured in their childhood were assessed by mailed interview and clinical re-examination in 1994. On average, the patients had sustained injuries to 11.9 per cent (SD = 8.8) of their TBSA (maximum 50 per cent), the injuries were mainly scalds (90.1 per cent). Nineteen patients (20.9 per cent) remembered the event and 23 (25.3 per cent) remembered their hospitalisation. The hospitalisation vignettes were significantly associated with painful memories among children older than 3 yr (Fisher's exact test P = 0.04). Seventeen patients (18.7 per cent) had recollections of pain during hospitalisation. They had been confined for an average of 30.9 days. Twenty-one patients (23.1 per cent) had a fear of hot water and fire, and 39 (42.9 per cent) were cautious. The median age at the time of admission was 1.7 yr. The re-examined patients had good school marks and their rate of educational qualifications did not differ from the Finnish national average. No less than one fifth (20.8 per cent, N = 11) had some difficulties with contact with the opposite gender in their adolescence but only one had difficulties later. Fifty-five patients (mostly female, chi 2 = 13.06, DF = 2, P < 0.01) expressed annoyance at their scars, but no more than one third (N = 17) kept them covered continuously. Only five (5.5 per cent) with visible scars had no memories or special psychosocial sequelae. Almost everyone burn-injured in childhood will have some memories of burn care as an adult. However, the negative psychosocial sequale are modest after the typical paediatric burns, scalds, in early childhood.

Adaptation, Psychological↗