Oxandrolone The authors present a retrospective single centre based study assessing the effect of Oxandrolone (OX) on the length of stay (LOS) following ≥15% of total body surface area (TBSA) burns. One hundred and sixty-seven surviving patients were retrospectively analysed – 77% male, median TBSA was 23% and median age was 42.7 years. The comprehensive severity index (CSI) was used to control for severity of illness. The decision to treat with OX was clinician dependent during admission. With 1:1 matching, 22 patients were included in each arm with similar mean TBSA; the LOS was significantly shorter in the OX group than control (33.6 vs. 43.4 days). Twenty-nine patients were included in each arm for >1:1 matching; LOS was also significantly shorter in the treatment arm (31.6 vs. 40.9 days). The authors propose that OX counteracts the catabolic impact of burn injuries – hypermetabolism, delayed wound healing, etc., hence promoting a quicker recovery and shorter LOS. It is unclear which specific group of patients would benefit most from the use of OX. The authors must be applauded for attempting to control for a number of variables using the CSI, however, one limitation of the study which is also acknowledged by the authors is a potential selection bias for the group receiving OX, as these were likely to be sicker patients. Overall, this study must be viewed as a platform towards a randomised control trial exploring the impact of OX in major burns management.
Management of major burns – a role for Oxandrolone
Reviewed by Zeeshan Sheikh and Greg Ekatah
The impact of Oxandrolone on length of stay following major burn injury: a clinical practice evaluation.
