Inhalation injury is associated with long-term employment outcomes in the burn population: Findings from a cross-sectional examination of the Burn Model System National Database

Return-to-employment for working-aged adults after burn injury: A mixed methods scoping review

BACKGROUND

This scoping review aimed to identify the barriers, facilitators and benefits of returning to work following burn injury, outcome measures used, management strategies, and models of care.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a comprehensive overview about working-aged adults returning to their preinjury employment after burn injury.

METHODS

We followed a pre-determined scoping review protocol to search MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, CCRCT and CDSR databases between 2000 to December 2023. Papers reporting primary data from previously employed adults with cutaneous burn injuries were included.

RESULTS

In all, 90 articles met the review criteria. Return-to-work was both an outcome goal and process of recovery from burn injury. Physical and psychological impairments were identified barriers. Job accommodations and modifications were important for supporting the transition from hospital to workplace. Employment status and quality of life sub-scales were used to measure return-to-work.

CONCLUSIONS

Consistent definitions of work and measurements of return-to-employment after burn injury are priorities for future research. Longitudinal studies are more likely to capture the complexity of the return-to-employment process, its impact on work participation and changes in employment over time. The social context of work may assist or hinder return-to-work more than physical environmental constraints. Equitable vocational support systems would help address disparities in vocational rehabilitation services available after burn injury.

An international RAND/UCLA expert panel to determine the optimal diagnosis and management of burn inhalation injury

BACKGROUND

Burn inhalation injury (BII) is a major cause of burn-related mortality and morbidity. Despite published practice guidelines, no consensus exists for the best strategies regarding diagnosis and management of BII. A modified DELPHI study using the RAND/UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) Appropriateness Method (RAM) systematically analysed the opinions of an expert panel. Expert opinion was combined with available evidence to determine what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate judgement in the diagnosis and management of BII.

METHODS

A 15-person multidisciplinary panel comprised anaesthetists, intensivists and plastic surgeons involved in the clinical management of major burn patients adopted a modified Delphi approach using the RAM method. They rated the appropriateness of statements describing diagnostic and management options for BII on a Likert scale. A modified final survey comprising 140 statements was completed, subdivided into history and physical examination (20), investigations (39), airway management (5), systemic toxicity (23), invasive mechanical ventilation (29) and pharmacotherapy (24). Median appropriateness ratings and the disagreement index (DI) were calculated to classify statements as appropriate, uncertain, or inappropriate.

RESULTS

Of 140 statements, 74 were rated as appropriate, 40 as uncertain and 26 as inappropriate. Initial intubation with ≥ 8.0 mm endotracheal tubes, lung protective ventilatory strategies, initial bronchoscopic lavage, serial bronchoscopic lavage for severe BII, nebulised heparin and salbutamol administration for moderate-severe BII and N-acetylcysteine for moderate BII were rated appropriate. Non-protective ventilatory strategies, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, high-frequency percussive ventilation, prophylactic systemic antibiotics and corticosteroids were rated inappropriate. Experts disagreed (DI ≥ 1) on six statements, classified uncertain: the use of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy to guide fluid requirements (DI = 1.52), intubation with endotracheal tubes of internal diameter < 8.0 mm (DI = 1.19), use of airway pressure release ventilation modality (DI = 1.19) and nebulised 5000IU heparin, N-acetylcysteine and salbutamol for mild BII (DI = 1.52, 1.70, 1.36, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Burns experts mostly agreed on appropriate and inappropriate diagnostic and management criteria of BII as in published guidance. Uncertainty exists as to the optimal diagnosis and management of differing grades of severity of BII. Future research should investigate the accuracy of bronchoscopic grading of BII, the value of bronchial lavage in differing severity groups and the effectiveness of nebulised therapies in different severities of BII.

Burn Injury-Induced Extracellular Vesicle Production and Characteristics

ABSTRACT

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized membrane-bound particles containing biologically active cargo molecules. The production and molecular composition of EVs reflect the physiological state of parent cells, and once released into the circulation, they exert pleiotropic functions via transferring cargo contents. Thus, circulating EVs not only serve as biomarkers, but also mediators in disease processes or injury responses. In the present study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of plasma EVs from burn patients and healthy subjects, characterizing their size distribution, concentration, temporal changes, cell origins, and cargo protein contents. Our results indicated that burn injury induced a significant increase in circulating EVs, the response peaked at the time of admission and declined over the course of recovery. Importantly, EV production correlated with injury severity, as indicated by the total body surface area and depth of burn, requirement for critical care/ICU stay, hospitalization length, wound infection, and concurrence of sepsis. Burn patients with inhalation injury showed a higher level of EVs than those without inhalation injury. We also evaluated patient demographics (age and sex) and pre-existing conditions (hypertension, obesity, and smoking) and found no significant correlation between these conditions and overall EV production. At the molecular level, flow cytometric analysis showed that the burn-induced EVs were largely derived from leukocytes and endothelial cells (ECs), which are known to be activated postburn. Additionally, a high level of zona-occludens-1 (ZO-1), a major constituent of tight junctions, was identified in burn EV cargos, indicative of injury in tissues that form barriers via tight junctions. Moreover, when applied to endothelial cell monolayers, burn EVs caused significant barrier dysfunction, characterized by decreased transcellular barrier resistance and disrupted cell-cell junction continuity. Taken together, these data suggest that burn injury promotes the production of EVs containing unique cargo proteins in a time-dependent manner; the response correlates with injury severity and worsened clinical outcomes. Functionally, burn EVs serve as a potent mediator capable of reducing endothelial barrier resistance and impairing junction integrity, a pathophysiological process underlying burn-associated tissue dysfunction. Thus, further in-depth characterization of circulating EVs will contribute to the development of new prognostic tools or therapeutic targets for advanced burn care.

Validation of PROMIS-29 domain scores among adult burn survivors: A National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Burn Model System Study

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcomes are important for understanding recovery after burn injury, benchmarking service delivery and measuring the impact of interventions. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-29 domains have been validated for use among diverse populations though not among burn survivors. The purpose of this study was to examine validity and reliability of PROMIS-29 scores in this population.

METHODS

The PROMIS-29 scores of physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, ability to participate in social roles, and pain interference were evaluated for validity and reliability in adult burn survivors. Unidimensionality, floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency, and reliability were examined. Differential item functioning was used to examine bias with respect to demographic and injury characteristics. Correlations with measures of related constructs (Community Integration Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Post-Traumatic Stress Checklist-Civilian, and Veteran's Rand-12) and known-group differences were examined.

RESULTS

Eight hundred and seventy-six burn survivors with moderate to severe injury from 6 months to 20 years postburn provided responses on PROMIS-29 domains. Participants' ages ranged from 18 years to 93 years at time of assessment; mean years since injury was 3.4. All PROMIS domain scores showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.87-0.97). There was a large ceiling effect on ability to participate in social roles (39.7%) and physical function (43.3%). One-factor confirmatory factor analyses supported unidimensionality (all comparative fit indices >0.95). We found no statistically significant bias (differential item functioning). Reliability was high (>0.9) across trait levels for all domains except sleep, which reached moderate reliability (>0.85). All known-group differences by demographic and clinical characteristics were in the hypothesized direction and magnitude except burn size categories.

CONCLUSION

The results provide strong evidence for reliability and validity of PROMIS-29 domain scores among adult burn survivors. Reliability of the extreme scores could be increased and the ceiling effects reduced by administering PROMIS-43, which includes six items per domain, or by administering by computerized adaptive testing.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Diagnostic Test or Criteria, level III.

Prevalence and predictors of scar contracture-associated re-hospitalisation among burn inpatients in China

Scar contracture, a common destructive complication causing increased re-hospitalisation rate of burn survivors and aggravated burden on the medical system, may be more seriously in Chinese population because of their higher susceptibility to scar formation. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of scar contracture-associated re-hospitalisation among Chinese burn inpatients. This cross-sectional study screened burn inpatients hospitalised during 2013 to 2018 through the Hospital Quality Monitoring System database, among whom re-hospitalised for scar contracture were identified. Variables including sex, age, occupations, burn area, burn site and surgical treatment were analysed. Potential predictors of scar contracture-associated re-hospitalisation among burn inpatients were determined by univariate regression analyses. Of the 220,642 burn inpatients, 2146 (0.97%) were re-hospitalised for scar contracture. The re-hospitalised inpatients were predominantly men and blue-collar workers, showing younger median age at the time of burns, larger burn sizes, and higher percentage of surgical treatment compared other burn inpatients. Significant univariate predictors of scar contracture-associated re-hospitalisation included male sex, age < 50 years, blue-collar work, ≥ 40% total body superficial area burned, inhalation injured, and surgical treatment. Scar contracture is an intractable complication and a significant factor to increase re-hospitalisation rate among Chinese burn inpatients.

Temperature sensitivity after burn injury: A Burn Model System National Database Hot Topic

BACKGROUND

People living with burn injury often report temperature sensitivity. However, its epidemiology and associations with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are unknown. We aimed to characterize temperature sensitivity and determine its impact on HRQOL to inform patient education after recovery from burn injury.

METHODS

We used the multicenter, longitudinal Burn Model System National Database to assess temperature sensitivity at 6, 12 and 24 months after burn injury. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests determined differences in patient and injury characteristics. Multivariable, multi-level generalized linear regression models determined the association of temperature sensitivity with Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWL) scores and Veterans RAND 12 (VR-12) physical (PCS) and mental health summary (MCS) component scores.

RESULTS

The cohort comprised 637 participants. Two thirds (66%) experienced temperature sensitivity. They had larger burns (12% TBSA, IQR 4-30 vs 5% TBSA, IQR 2-15; p<0.0001), required more grafting (5% TBSA, IQR 1-19 vs 2% TBSA, IQR 0-6; p<0.0001), and had higher intensity of pruritus at discharge (11% severe vs 5% severe; p=0.002). After adjusting for confounding variables, temperature sensitivity was strongly associated with lower SWL (OR -3.2, 95% CI -5.2, -1.1) and MCS (OR -4.0, 95% CI -6.9, -1.2) at 6-months. Temperature sensitivity decreased over time (43% at discharge, 4% at 24-months) and was not associated with poorer HRQOL at 12 and 24 months.

CONCLUSION

Temperature sensitivity is common after burn injury and associated with worse SWL and MCS during the first year after injury. However, temperature sensitivity seems to improve and be less intrusive over time.

Activity impairment, work status, and work productivity loss in adults 5-7 years after burn injuries

An important aspect of the rehabilitation of burn patients is social participation, including daily activities and work. Detailed information on long-term activity impairment and employment is scarce. Therefore, we investigated activity impairment, work status, and work productivity loss in adults 5–7 years following burn injuries, and investigated associations with burn-specific health-related quality of life (HRQL) domains. Adult participants completed the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment General Health questionnaire and the Burn Specific Health Scale-brief (BSHS-B) 5–7 years post-burn. Outcomes were compared between participants with mild/intermediate and severe burns (>20% total body surface area burned). Seventy-six (36%) of the 213 participants experienced some degree of activity impairment due to burn-related problems 5–7 years post-burn. Seventy percent of the population was employed; 12% of them experienced work productivity loss due to burn-related problems. Nineteen percent reported changes in their work situation (partly) because of the burn injury. A higher proportion of participants with severe burns had activity impairments (56% vs 29%; P = .001) and work productivity loss (26% vs 8%; P < .001) compared to participants with mild/intermediate burns. Activity impairment and work productivity loss were both associated with burn-related work problems and lower mood, measured with the BSHS-B. In conclusion, a substantial part of the study population experienced activity impairment and work productivity loss, was unemployed, and/or reported changes in their work situation due to their injury. Particularly patients with severe burns reported productivity loss and had lower employment rates. This subscribes the importance of addressing work-related functioning in the rehabilitation of burn patients.