Introduction

This month we will examine the evidence on laser stimulation of healing. While the conclusions may not all be “goodness and light,” there are areas where efficacy seems promising and some where evidence of efficacy is clearly lacking. Come with me, into the realm of “light wave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” We shall explore together evidence of what lasers do and may not do and which of their effects remain to be “enlightened” by properly powered, blinded, randomized, controlled, scientific studies. For those of you who wish to read full text o

Disclosure: Research funded by East Carolina University Research/Creative Activity Grant #99-53

Introduction

One of the greatest controversies in wound management is the debate over the usefulness of swab cultures for predicting the presence of wound infection. The swab culture method has received criticism because it is thought to only estimate wound surface microbial numbers and not intra-tissue numbers. Because of these limitations, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the use of either wound fluid aspiration or tissue biopsy to determine the levels of bacter

Disclosure: Presented at the Asia Pacific Burns Congress incorporating the Australian and New Zealand Burns Association Annual Scientific Meeting in Brisbane, Australia, September 8–12, 2003

Introduction

Patients who have sustained burns to any hair-bearing area of their bodies are susceptible to the often painful infectious complication of folliculitis. Folliculitis is defined simply as “inflammation of the hair follicles.”[1] The infection is secondary to trauma from burn injury, which causes damage to the hair follicle and allows pathogens to gain access via small breaks in the

Company Adds Third Modality, Safety Feature Option for its Dual-Function Specialty Surface

Span-America Systems, Inc. has added a deluxe control unit as an optional upgrade to its PressureGuard® APM2 support surface.

First introduced in 2000, the APM2 offers caregivers the option of alternating pressure or lateral rotation at the flip of a built-in toggle switch.

With the new deluxe control unit, the surface will now provide powered flotation as well. In this mode, therapy is maintained, but motion in the air cylinders is temporarily suspended to facilitate dressing changes, feeding