Feasibility and Reliability of Ultrasound in Acute Burns.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This trial investigates the feasibility and reliability of different ultrasound protocols to determine quadriceps muscle architecture in acutely admitted burn patients. The results of this trial will provide more clarity as to whether ultrasound can be used as a bedside tool to monitor muscle wasting.

Detailed Description
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BACKGROUND Despite the ubiquity of muscle wasting following burns, practical and accurate tools to measure the degree of muscle wasting are lacking in burn care. Ultrasound has been used for this purpose in the critically-ill population and has shown to be valid and reliable. Whether this can be extrapolated to the burn population, however, remains unclear. Open wounds, fluid status, and uncertainty regarding which protocol to use are amongst factors that complicate the use of ultrasound during the acute phase of burns. AIM This study examines the reliability and feasibility of ultrasound measures in the acute burn setting comparing different techniques and locations of application. METHODS Burned adults were assessed at admission in two Belgian burn centers by two trained assessors using B-mode ultrasound with a linear transducer. Ultrasound-derived variables included quadriceps muscle layer thickness (QMLT) and rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RF-CSA) on both thighs. Both maximum and minimum compression techniques were used for QMLT, while RF-CSA was determined by minimum compression only. QMLT was measured at a proximal and distal location on the thigh, and RF-CSA was measured at the most proximal location possible where the entire muscle belly still remained visible.

Official Title
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Feasibility and Reliability of Ultrasound Assessment of Muscle Architecture in Acute Burns.

Conditions
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Burns

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Burn subjects


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Burn subjects: Inclusion Criteria: ≥10 - ≤80 %TBSA Burn depth: 2nd deep / 3rd degree Exclusion Criteria: Electrical burn (except flash burns) Associated injury: fracture lower limb Diabetes Mellitus type 1 Central / peripheral neurological/neuromuscular disorders (interfering with exercise) Cognitive / psychological disorders (interfering with cooperation) Cardiopulmonary disease (interfering with exercise safety) Pregnancy Palliative care Healthy subjects: none

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Burn subjects<br>exposure to burn injury | Other: Burn subjects<br>* see eligibility criteria<br>|
| Non-burned control<br>no exposure to burn injury | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | Interrater reliability of QMLT and RF-CSA assessed by intraclass correlation | <72 hours of admission | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feasibility of measurements | Feasibility of different techniques and locations of measurements, assessed by number of realised vs attempted measurements | <72 hours of admission | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Burns, Ultrasound, Muscle wasting, Muscular Atrophy, Reliability, Feasibility