UNAIR NEWS – Burns are serious injuries that require special attention. Unconsciously, many incidents occur, including in Indonesia. In the US, about 2 million people suffer from burns every year, causing about 6,000 people to die each year.
Indonesia still does not have clear data regarding this problem. However, Dr Soetomo Hospital Surabaya during the period from January 2019 to December 2021 recorded 260 such cases.
Fatal consequences
In the Professors’ Inauguration of Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) on Wednesday, Dec 27, 2023, in the Garuda Mukti Hall, MERR-C Campus, Prof Dr Iswinarno Doso Saputro dr Sp BP-RE(K), conveyed his ideas for handling the issue.
“According to Professor Djohansjah in his book, burns are not ordinary wounds. Burns are extraordinary injuries because they are trauma with high morbidity and mortality. They require special treatment until the patient is declared cured,” explained Prof. Iswinarno.
The most serious consequence is the ugly skin conditions. They cause discomfort, pain, and appearance problems. They do not rule out the possibility that sufferers will feel inferior, lose self-confidence, and even be threatened with losing their jobs with an uncertain future.
Prof. Iswinarno conveyed several changes that occurred as a result of burns. These include changes in muscles, bones, and glucose, effects on cardiovascular, lung, kidney, liver, mental health, pain, and the skin.
“Burns, even if the victims survive, they will suffer from a skin disorder called hypertrophic scarring. It will cause disturbances, both in appearance and function,” he said.
Various treatments
There are several options for treating hypertrophic scars. These include recombinant growth hormone (rhGH), oxandrolone, physical exercise therapy, as well as silicone sheets and pressure garments. Furthermore, intralesional injections with triamcinolone (TAC) and fluorouracil (5-FU), secretome, and laser therapy can be used.
“Administering rnGH can accelerate burn closure and site healing in children and adults. However, the disadvantage is that it requires close monitoring. Meanwhile, administration of oxandrolone will increase lean body mass, and muscle strength, and in children will accelerate height growth,” he explained.
Currently, secretomes have been widely used. The secretome consists of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors which can form collagen, and improve pigment abnormalities and scar texture.
Not only that, ablative CO2 and erbium:YAG (er:YAG) fractional laser therapy is the most frequently used lasers. The main effects that arise are reducing the thickness of the wound, increasing the elasticity of the scar, and reducing pain and pruritus.
“It is necessary to build a special hospital to handle cases of burns and injuries in general, as an effort to improve services, research, and education in the field of burns,” concluded Prof. Iswinarno in his oration.
Author: Maissy Ar Maghfiroh
Editor: Nuri Hermawan
