ali akbar jangjoo

Several methods have been used in wound closure for traumatic wounds, but it is not clear that which of these methods has more safety and efficacy. This study aimed to compare scar width due to standard and current treatments in wound repair by suturing and method of wound restoration using wound tape in patients with traumatic ulcers.

This randomized clinical trial was done in ninety patients with wounds in the facial area. They were divided randomly into two groups of 45. The wounds in the first group were sutured, and wound tapes were used to wound closure in the second group. After 2 months, length and width of scar and results of life‑size photography were recorded in a list, especially prepared for this purpose.

The mean age of the patients was 22.7 ± 12.9 years with 46 males (56.1%) and 36 females (43.9%). After 2 months, scars width in suture wound group was 2.9 mm and in wound tape group was 2.5 mm, with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.07). In patients with wound length of >20 mm, scars width was similar between groups and no significant differences was noted (P = 0.27), but in patients with wound length of <20 mm, scars width in wound tape group was significantly less than suture wound group (1.7 vs. 2.5 mm, respectively, P = 0.01). Wound complications were not significantly different between the two groups.

Findings revealed that scar formation in wounds lower than 20 mm treated using wound tape was lower than suture, but for wounds between 20 and 50 mm were similar between wound tape and suture.

Resuscitation of children in different treatment wards is a challenge. Given that the pediatric drug dosing is based on weight and weighing is not practical in emergency situations, it is critical to employ a fast, easy, and reliable technique. Hence, this study attempted to evaluate the real weight children against Broselow estimation.

This cross-sectional study involved 1500 children of 2–24 months referred to Isfahan urban and rural health centers in 2015. Children’s estimated weights were measured based on the standard Broselow tape and real weights through a digital scale. The factors such as age, sex, height, arm circumference, head circumference, and living place of children were recorded. The collected data were analyzed through independent t-test, ANOVA, and linear regression using SPSS (version 20).

The weight difference of children through Broselow estimation was 0.019 kg, and the correlation coeffi cient was 0.893 (P > 0.05). The difference sorted by age ranges was signifi cant only in >12 months (P < 0.05). It was estimated at error of 10% to be 68.9% correctly. The mean weight estimation error was signifi cant sorted by weight, sex, habitus, and living place of children (P < 0.001).

Although Broselow tape has been proved to be accurate it led to a signifi cant error at different age ranges. Hence, the present study estimated the age, arm circumference, and height of Iranian children based on new formulas providing more successful tool through controlling the confounding factors in estimating the real weight.