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Volume XXIV |
Number 2 |
June 2011 |
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Summaries
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EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SEVERE BURN INJURIES IN A TERTIARY BURN CENTRE IN TEHRAN, IRAN
(MOHAMMADI-BARZELIGHI H., ALAGHEHBANDAN R., MOTEVALLIAN A., ALINEJAD F., SOLEIMANZADEH-MOGHADAM S., SATTARI M., LARI A.R. - CANADA)
The aim of the study was to examine the epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized burn patients in a tertiary burn centre in Tehran, Iran. A hospital-based cross-sectional study of all hospitalized patients with burn injuries was conducted in Motahari Burn and Reconstruction Center in Tehran from August to December 2010. Medical records of all hospitalized burn patients were reviewed and pertinent information was captured. A total of 135 patients with severe burns requiring hospitalization were identified during the study period (68.9% males, mean age 33 yr). The most common cause of burns was flammable materials/ liquids (e.g. kerosene and gasoline) (56/135, 41.5%). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that sex (female) and total body surface area (TBSA) burned were the strongest predictors of survival in this cohort. Our findings showed that burn injury continued to be a significant public health problem in Iran, young people (26-35 yr) being the most affected. TBSA and sex (female) were found to be the most predictive factors of patient survival. |
| 63 |
LES BRÛLURES ÉLECTRIQUES CHEZ LES VOLEURS DE CUIVRE
(BELMIR R., FEJJAL N., ACHBOUK H., EL MAZOUZ S., GHARIB N., ABASSI A., BELMAHI A. - MAROC)
Les vols de biens fabriqués avec le cuivre semblent en hausse depuis un certain temps du fait de son prix élevé de revente, ce qui est à l'origine d'une augmentation du nombre d'accidents électriques par haut voltage (AEHV) qui sont graves du fait des brûlures profondes qu'elles provoquent le long des axes vasculo-nerveux. Les Auteurs rapportent une série de neuf cas d'AEHV traités au service de chirurgie plastique et de brûlés de l'Hôpital Ibn Sina de Rabat, Maroc, à travers laquelle ils étudient les caractéristiques épidémiologiques, cliniques et thérapeutiques. La population intéressée était jeune et active. Les brûlures étaient secondaires à un contact avec des câbles à haute tension lors de tentatives de vol par arrachement de conducteurs en cuivre dans les transformateurs dans 67% des cas, et lors de tentatives de coupure de caténaires alimentant les trains électriques sur le réseau ferroviaire dans 33% des cas. Le traitement des lésions électrothermiques a nécessité des interventions itératives avec amputation et désarticulation des segments de membres nécrosés dans 66% des cas, dont les suites étaient marquées par des séquelles fonctionnelles invalidantes. La prévention de ce type d'AEHV reste fondamentale. |
| 67 |
FUNCTION-SPARING TIBIALIS ANTERIOR PIVOTED MUSCLE FLAP FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF POST-BURN AND POSTTRAUMATIC MIDDLE-THIRD LEG DEFECTS WITH EXPOSED TIBIA
(MEGAHED M.A. - EGYPT)
Reconstruction of the middle third of the leg is a challenging procedure. The tibialis anterior muscle flap can be useful in reconstruction of the middle third of the leg with exposed tibia. The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of tibialis anterior pivoted muscle flap for reconstruction of the middle third of the leg with functional preservation. This study, performed in the Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Unit, Menoufiya University Hospital, Egypt, included 16 patients (13 males and 3 females) during the period February 2007/May 2010: seven post-burn and nine post-traumatic patients with post-burn middle-third leg defects with exposed tibia. Their ages ranged from 14 to 67 years. A function-sparing lateral split tibialis anterior pivoted muscle flap was used in all the patients. Follow-up ranged from six months to two years. Partial flap loss occurred in one patient (6.25%), there was no post-operative haematoma or infection, and only one case of wound dehiscence (6.25%), managed by secondary suture. No donor site morbidity or any significant functional impairment was observed, and the subjective aesthetic results were satisfactory. Lateral split tibialis anterior pivoted muscle flap is a useful, simple technique, allowing rapid, durable and reliable coverage of middle-third leg defects without significant impairment of function and without sacrificing major nerves or vessels in the foot, and without any donor site morbidity. |
| 72 |
LAMBEAUX AUTOFERMANTS POUR LE TRAITEMENT DES BRÛLURES ÉLECTRIQUES DU SCALP PAR HAUT VOLTAGE
(HAFIDI J., EL MAZOUZ S., EL MEJATTI H., FEJJAL N., GHARIB N.E., ABBASSI A., BELMAHI A.M. - MAROC)
Les brûlures électriques par haut voltage sont responsables de gros dégâts tissulaires en immédiat et dans les jours suivant l'accident du fait de la chaleur importante dégagée par effet joule et de la thrombose microvasculaire évolutive. Les pertes de substances du scalp secondaires à ces brûlures nécessitent une couverture par lambeaux vu la destruction du périoste et du calvarium en regard. De juin 1997 à juin 2008, 15 patients ont été traités pour des pertes de substance du scalp secondaires à des brûlures électriques par haut voltage de diamètre allant de 8 à 11 cm et siégeant dans la région tonsurale. Ces patients ont été opérés dans la première semaine suivant l'accident. Les pertes de substance du scalp de taille moyenne secondaires à ces brûlures peuvent être couvertes per primam de façon fiable par des lambeaux locaux axialisés et multiples. Nous relatons l'expérience du Service de Chirurgie Plastique du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Ibn-Sina, Rabat, Maroc, dans la gestion et la prise en charge de ces brûlures. |
| 77 |
TISSUE EXPANSION FOR BURN SEQUELAE: JEITAWE BURN CENTER, LEBANON
(GHANIME G., RIZKALLAH N., SAID J.M. - LEBANON)
Burn sequelae used to be treated with skin grafts and local or distant flaps with a high morbidity on the donor site. The purpose of treatment today by skin expansion is to achieve aesthetic amelioration, as the advantage of this technique is that it becomes possible to obtain local flaps with the same characteristics of colour, texture, hair, and sensitivity as normal skin. This is a review of 14 cases of burn patients treated between 2006 and 2010 at our burn centre at Jeitawe Hospital, Lebanon. The patients' ages ranged from 6 to 50 yr. The regions expanded were the scalp, forehead, neck, trunk, and the upper and lower limbs. The implants were positioned on the fascial layer; antibiotics and drainage were routinely used. The inflation of the expander began two weeks after surgery and continued for an average time of three months. Complications were rare. Results were good with an improvement of scars and minimal morbidity. Fifty per cent of our patients underwent another expansion. |
| 82 |
INHALATION INJURY AS A PROGNOSTIC FACTOR FOR MORTALITY IN BURN PATIENTS
(EL-HELBAWY R.H., GHAREEB F.M. - EGYPT)
Inhalation injury greatly increases the incidence of respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome. It is also the cause of most early deaths in burn victims. The aim of this research is to study the incidence, early diagnosis, complications, and management of inhalation injury and to discuss the relationship between inhalation injury and death in burn patients. The study included 130 burn patients (61 male and 69 female) with inhalation injury admitted to Menoufiya University Hospital Burn Center & Chest Department (Egypt) from January 2008 to January 2010. It was found that the presence of inhalation injury, increasing burn size, and advancing age were all associated with increased mortality (p < 0.01). The incidence of inhalation injury was 46.3% (the 130 patients came from a total number of 281 burn victims). The overall mortality rate among patients with inhalation injury was 41.5% (54/130) compared with 7.2% (11/151) among patients without inhalation injury. These statistics clearly indicate that inhalation injury was an important factor for predicting burn patient mortality. Approximately 80% of fire-related deaths are due not to the airway burn injury itself but to the inhalation of toxic products, especially carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide gases. Inhalation injury is generally caused by thermal burns, and is mostly confined to the upper airways. Major airway, pulmonary, and systemic complications occur after inhalation injury, and this increases the incidence of mortality among burn patients. |
| 89 |
WORKPLACE-RELATED BURNS
(MIAN M.A.H., MULLINS R.F., ALAM B., BRANDIGI C., FRIEDMAN B.C., SHAVER J.R., HASSAN Z. - USA)
Introduction. The key element of a safe workplace for employees is the maintenance of fire safety. Thermal, chemical, and electrical burns are common types of burns at the workplace. This study assessed the epidemiology of work-related burn injuries on the basis of the workers treated in a regional burn centre. Methods. Two years' retrospective data (2005-2006) from the Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons of the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, were collected and analysed. Results. During the time period studied, 2510 adult patients with acute burns were admitted; 384 cases (15%) were work-related. The average age of the patients was 37 yr (range, 15-72 yr). Males constituted the majority (90%) of workrelated burn injury admissions. The racial distribution was in accordance with the Centre's admission census. Industrial plant explosions accounted for the highest number of work-related burns and, relatively, a significant number of patients had chemical burns. The average length of hospital stay was 5.54 days. Only three patients did not have health insurance and four patients (1%) died. Conclusion. Burn injuries at the workplace predominantly occur among young male workers, and the study has shown that chemical burns are relatively frequent. This study functions as the basis for the evaluation of work-related burns and identification of the causes of these injuries to formulate adequate safety measures, especially for young, male employees working with chemicals. |
| 94 |
THE DIRECT HOSPITALIZATION COST OF CARE FOR ACUTE BURNS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA: A ONE-YEAR PROSPECTIVE STUDY
(AHACHI C.N., FADEYIBI I.O., ABIKOYE F.O., CHIRA M.K., UGBURO A.O., ADEMILUYI S.A. - NIGERIA)
Objective. We conducted a prospective study to identify the direct hospitalization cost of managing major acute burns in Lagos, Nigeria, and to determine the factors that influence the cost. Method. All consecutive and consenting patients seen and managed for major burns at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, between 1 June 2007 and 31 May 2008 were recruited for the study. A special form designed for the study was used to collect the necessary data. Results. Fifty-two patients were seen during the study period (27 males and 25 females). The ages ranged from 2 months to 69 yr with a mean of 25.4 ± 17.1 yr. The length of hospital stay ranged from 0.3-12 months (mean, 3.2 ± 3.1 months). The average daily cost of treating a patient was N (naira) 8,855 (N1000 = ?4.44) and the average overall cost was N209,303.70, with the costs of wound dressings, hospital admission, and surgery constituting respectively 29.5%, 25.7%, and 19.1% of the total amount spent. Conclusion. The length of hospital stay was prolonged in many patients and management methods should be reviewed to reduce this. The cost of managing burns is prohibitive for an average Nigerian. Efforts should be intensified to prevent burn injury and a Special Health Insurance policy should be established to finance burns management. |
| 102 |
CASE REPORT: BRÛLURE GRAVE DU MEMBRE INFERIEUR PAR L'ASSOCIATION D'EAU CHAUDE ET DE CITRULLUS COLOCYNTHIS
(FEJJAL N., GHARIB N.-E., EL MAZOUZ S., ABBASSI A., BELMAHI A. - MAROC)
Les auteurs rapportent le cas d'un patient brûlé gravement à cause de l'usage de Citrullus colocynthis comme plante médicinale avec de l'eau chaude. Ceci a abouti à une carbonisation de son pied et à son amputation. Les auteurs font une mise au point sur cette plante et sur sa toxicité. |
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