Compression garment in pediatric burn hyperplastic scars

  After the healing of pediatric burn wounds to prevent and control scar growth, commonly used methods are drugs and pressure therapy. The original compression therapy with elastic bandage only, the bandage often easily slips or folds, while the pediatric trunk, limbs, buttocks and perineum are inconveniently fixed with compression, resulting in poor pressure control and poor treatment effect. Since May 2005, our department started to tailor-made pressure garments to treat 132 cases of pediatric burn scars and achieved satisfactory results, which are reported below.  1. Data and methods 1.1 Clinical data Among 132 cases, there were 86 males and 46 females, age 1–10 years old, average 416 years old; 115 cases of hot liquid burns, 7 cases of burns and 10 cases after surgery. Parts: trunk and both upper limbs 78 cases, trunk 23 cases, trunk and both buttocks and lower limbs 26 cases, both thighs 5 cases. The time of consultation was 6–92 d after wound healing, with an average of 13 d. The duration of continuous pressure treatment ranged from half a year to more than 1a.  1.2 Materials and production: Stretch knitted fabric of Shanghai Dongyue Medical and Health Care Products Co., Ltd. with composition of stretch nylon and spandex yarn, with warp elongation ≥ 100% and mesh structure after stretching, with good moisture permeability and penetration rate ≥ 80%. Other auxiliary materials: zipper, rubber band, velcro, etc. Once the wound surface is healed or mostly healed, the measurement can be customized. Measurement: maintain a certain room temperature, remove clothing and pants, keep the body upright or sitting position and measure the limbs vertically, sometimes the child cries and can be measured quickly when it is quiet, the measurement spacing is generally 5cm, sometimes shortened according to the body surface undulation. Pressure calculation of the torso tightness of the child’s limbs selected 5% – 10%, calculation, drawing, cutting. The garment is a double-sleeved garment (sleeve length over the elbow joint) and the pants are double-legged pants (trouser length over the knee joint), so that the child can wear them easily. The forearms and calves were designed and made into elastic sleeves to match the garment and pants.  1.3 Use and dressing Make sure that the traumatic surface is clean and dry. Wear the upper garment with the sleeve on the affected side first, pull it up as far as possible to compact the armpit, and then tighten the zipper. It is better not to open the hole in the perineum of the pants to avoid reducing the pressure. Pull up the trouser legs one by one when wearing, so that the double trouser legs are flat, the crotch is snug and the double buttocks are compacted, especially the scars in the perineum or the double buttocks. The first time you wear it, pay attention to the blood circulation of the limbs and the edema of the distal limbs, and continue to wear it for 24h. It is best not to take a bath or apply topical medication for more than 30min. Continue to wear the treatment for more than half a year or even longer, until the scars become lighter in color and softer and flatter. The effect is better when combined with medication and silicone film. The compression garment is usually made in 2 sets, so that it can be replaced once every 24 hours to restore the elasticity and maintain the effective treatment pressure. The compression garment can be washed with cold water and neutral soap, and then dried.  2.Results There were 126 cases in this group in which the surface of the scars was obviously flattened after the application of pressure garment treatment, 98 cases in which the scars became softer and flatter, 26 cases in which the color of the scars became lighter, and 15 cases in which the scars belonged to the axilla, supraclavicular depression, lower abdomen and perineum, and the treatment effect was poor due to poor pressure control.  3, discussion After the healing of pediatric burn wounds because there is no finished pressure garment, pressure treatment is limited to elastic bandage, the application of bandage its pressure size is not easy to grasp, too much pressure causes limb blood ring disorders and affect muscle and bone development, insufficient pressure can not achieve the therapeutic effect, and the bandage is easy to slip off, special parts can not be fixed with pressure. The use of tailor-made to make the elastic suit treatment more scientific and effective and humane, and more convenient to wear, easy to replace and wash, the treatment effect is sure. The early pressure treatment effect is better after the trauma healing, the pressure in 133 – 210kpa is appropriate, with anti-scar drugs, silicone film or pressure pad treatment and insist on long-term wear effect is particularly outstanding. Timely follow-up.  Monitoring the tightness of the compression garment, replacing the garment every 24h as required, and re-making a new one if necessary are all essential in the treatment to make the treatment more effective by adjusting the pressure. After observation, we found better scar compression in the back, lateral chest, upper arms, thighs, and buttocks, related to the stiffer or compressed substrate in these areas. Problems: In some body depressions, lower abdomen, posterior side of joints, and areas with soft tissue substrate the pressure was poor and did not reach the intended pressure value, additional pressure pads could increase the required pressure, and further solutions need to be explored in the future. The pressure garment designed for each child’s individual condition is a more scientific treatment method, and the whole process of pressure treatment, from consultation, measurement and design, custom-made pressure garment, and the whole process of pressure treatment, fully reflects a new doctor-patient relationship with compassionate care, which is worth promoting and applying when available.