RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: During 2022-2023, the UK found itself in the midst of a domestic energy crisis, with the average domestic gas and electricity bill rising by 75% between 2019 and 2022. As a result, the use of hot water bottles, radiant heaters, and electric blankets increased. An unintended consequence of this may be an increase in burn injuries caused by misfortune, misuse, or the use of items in a state of disrepair. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore any increase in referrals to a single burns centre in England for injuries caused by hot water bottles, radiant heaters, or electric blankets. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of a prospectively maintained database of referrals. All referrals between January 2022 and January 2023 were selected and compared with the same period from 2020-2021 (before the rise in energy prices). Referrals were screened for the terms "hot water bottle," "electric heater," "electric blanket," and "heater." Total referrals in each period, demographic data (age, gender), anatomical location and the mechanism of injury were compared between cohorts. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant increase in the number of burns relating to heating implements between 2020/21 and 2022/23, rising from 54 to 81 (p = 0.03) - a 50% increase in injuries. Injuries in working age adults increased significantly (52% to 69%, p < 0.05). The most frequently injured area was the leg (30%) followed by the hand (18%). The commonest type of injury described was scald (72%). We found a moderately-strong correlation between the number of referrals and the average cost of energy in 2022-23. CONCLUSION: The number of injuries sustained by people using personal heating equipment is significantly increasing, which correlated with the rise in domestic energy prices. The most affected demographic appears to be working age adults, with wider implications around lost work-time yet to be explored. Further prospective, population-based work is indicated to assess the strength of the correlation seen in this study.
Assuntos
Queimaduras , Calefação , Encaminhamento e Consulta , Humanos , Queimaduras/epidemiologia , Queimaduras/etiologia , Queimaduras/economia , Masculino , Feminino , Estudos Retrospectivos , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adolescente , Adulto Jovem , Calefação/instrumentação , Calefação/economia , Calefação/efeitos adversos , Criança , Encaminhamento e Consulta/estatística & dados numéricos , Inglaterra/epidemiologia , Idoso , Pré-Escolar , Lactente , Unidades de Queimados/economia , Roupas de Cama, Mesa e Banho/efeitos adversos , Roupas de Cama, Mesa e Banho/economia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/epidemiologia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/etiologia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/economia , Temperatura Alta/efeitos adversosRESUMO
Electrical burns are an uncommon yet devastating class of burn injuries. Shriners Hospitals for Children - Boston a pediatric burn center in New England and cares for both domestic and international patients. We utilized our experience over the past 13 years to review surgical management and evaluate historical trends for this unique patient group. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 68 patients aged 0-18 years admitted to our pediatric center with an electrical burn from January 2005 to December 2018. We collected and analyzed data pertaining to patient demographics, burn characteristics, clinical course, and surgical interventions. Our cohort included 31 patients from the US (46%) and 37 transferred from a variety of international countries (54%). The majority of US patients were admitted with low voltage burns (81%), whereas the majority of international patients were admitted with high voltage burns (95%). Acute and reconstructive surgical interventions were performed mainly for high voltage burns (94% and 89%). Based on our experience, epidemiology and surgical intervention varied based on voltage of the burn injury and residence of the patient. We have seen a reduction in US pediatric high voltage injuries over the past two decades, likely due to enhancement of electrical safety. It may be possible to use a similar strategy to reduce the frequency of severe high voltage electrical burn injuries in developing countries.
Assuntos
Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica , Adolescente , Boston , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/epidemiologia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/cirurgia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Hospitalização , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Tempo de Internação , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Burns are a major form of injury in children worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology, outcome, cost and risk factors of pediatric burns in southwest China. METHODS: This retrospective study was performed at the Institute of Burn Research of the Third Military Medical University from 2011 to 2015. Data, including demographic, injury-related, and clinical data and patient outcome, were collected from medical records. RESULTS: A total of 2478 children with burns (58.03% boys), accounting for 39.2% of total burn patients, were included. The average age of the burn patients was 2.86±2.86years, and most patients (85.55%) were under five years old. The incidence of burns peaked in January, February and May. Scald burns were the most frequent (79.06%), followed by flame burns (14.0%) and electrical burns (3.35%). Limbs were the most common burn sites (69.73%), and the average total body surface area (TBSA) was 11.57±11.61%. The percentage of children who underwent operations and the number of operations were significantly increased in cases of electrical burns, the older-age group, a larger TBSA and full-thickness burns. Six deaths were recorded, yielding a mortality of 0.24%. The median length of stay and cost were 14days and 9541 CNY, respectively, and the major risk factors for length of stay and cost were the TBSA, number of operations, full-thickness burns and outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In southwest China, among children under five years old, scald and flame burns should become the key prevention target, and future prevention strategies should be based on related risk factors.
Assuntos
Queimaduras/epidemiologia , Custos de Cuidados de Saúde , Tempo de Internação/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Distribuição por Idade , Superfície Corporal , Queimaduras/economia , Queimaduras/terapia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/economia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/epidemiologia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/terapia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , China/epidemiologia , Desbridamento , Feminino , Hidratação , Humanos , Incidência , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Avaliação de Resultados em Cuidados de Saúde , Ressuscitação , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Distribuição por Sexo , Transplante de Pele , Índices de Gravidade do TraumaRESUMO
Electrical injuries and especially those of high voltage still remain a source of high morbidity. Over the past few years, a change in the epidemiologic profile of these lesions was noticed at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital Burn Unit, corresponding to an increase in cases out of the legal framework. It is our aim to describe this particular subset, to determine the extent of their injuries and to understand the reason for their increased incidence. We think this was favoured by the rise in the unemployment rate, along with higher copper prices.
Assuntos
Acidentes Domésticos/estatística & dados numéricos , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/epidemiologia , Recessão Econômica , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/epidemiologia , Roubo/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Amputação Cirúrgica , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/complicações , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/cirurgia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Síndromes Compartimentais/etiologia , Síndromes Compartimentais/cirurgia , Cobre , Desbridamento , Fasciotomia , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Distribuição por Sexo , Transplante de Pele , Espanha/epidemiologia , Desemprego/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
PURPOSE: Retrospective studies on the types and causes of facial burns are important because the patterns might vary in different societies. Our aim was to assess the burn-related factors of significance that might be useful in healthcare planning and implementing preventive strategies, adding to the body of current data on the subject. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the data from a major burns referral center during a 5-year period (2009 to 2013). The data relevant to age, gender, cause, source, location, burn degree, extent (body surface area [BSA]) of the burns, and mortality were gathered from comprehensive patient medical records, recorded, and analyzed using SPSS, version 20, software (SPSS, Chicago, IL). RESULTS: Within the study period, we found 808 documented cases of second- and third-degree facial burns. These burns were more common in men (81.9%) and in the 16- to 35-year age group (42.3%). The mean hospitalization was 9.85 ± 8.94 days. In 443 patients (54.83%), 10 to 19% of their BSA was burned, and 3.06% had associated inhalation burns. The most common burn was scalding (19%), and the deadliest was burns from acid, with a mortality rate of 7.4%. Accidents accounted for 776 burns (96.03%). Other causes were attempted homicide (16 cases, 1.98%) and suicide attempts (16 cases, 1.98%). The overall mortality was 1.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The key findings were that second- and third-degree facial burns were more common in males aged 16 to 35 years with burns covering 10 to 19% of the BSA. Accidental scalding was commonly responsible for the second-degree burns, and electrical accidents were commonly responsible for third-degree facial burns. Burn accidents occurred more often at the patient's home.
Assuntos
Queimaduras/epidemiologia , Traumatismos Faciais/epidemiologia , Acidentes Domésticos/estatística & dados numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Superfície Corporal , Queimaduras/classificação , Queimaduras/mortalidade , Queimaduras Químicas/epidemiologia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/epidemiologia , Queimaduras por Inalação/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Traumatismos Faciais/classificação , Traumatismos Faciais/mortalidade , Feminino , Hospitalização/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Irã (Geográfico)/epidemiologia , Tempo de Internação/estatística & dados numéricos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores Sexuais , Tentativa de Suicídio/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Electrical injury in construction workers due to contact with overhead power lines accounts for an important cause of admission at the emergency department. Due to lack of specific treatment options for this type of injury, prevention remains the mainstay of management. AIMS: Our study aimed to demonstrate the characteristics of electrical injury in construction workers among one of the largest Iranian population at a burn care hospital. METHODS: Through a retrospective review of hospital data base, patients with electrical injuries admitted to Motahari hospital in Tehran, Iran between March 2011 and June 2012 were included for analysis. Patients were divided into construction workers and other patients. Primary characteristics and final outcomes were then compared between the 2 study groups. RESULTS: Of 202 patients included in this study, 105 patients (52%) were construction workers and 97 patients (48%) constituted the remainder. There was significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of mean age, gender, and average burn size. In contrast, mean duration of hospitalization and mortality rate did not differ significantly between the 2 study groups (p>0.05). Contacts with over head power-lines accounted for the most common mechanism of injury. There was significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of place of injury and electrical current power. However, total cost of treatment did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (p>0.05). Frequency of severe complications was higher in construction workers and this group underwent more invasive procedures such as limb amputation and fasciotomy. CONCLUSION: The most common mechanism of electrical injuries in construction workers is due to contact with over head high voltage power-lines at workplace. This type of electrical injury is associated with higher use of fasciotomy, flap and limb amputation.
Assuntos
Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/epidemiologia , Indústria da Construção , Traumatismos por Eletricidade/epidemiologia , Instalação Elétrica/efeitos adversos , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/epidemiologia , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Amputação Cirúrgica , Unidades de Queimados , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/economia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/terapia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Estudos Transversais , Traumatismos por Eletricidade/economia , Traumatismos por Eletricidade/terapia , Fasciotomia , Feminino , Custos de Cuidados de Saúde , Humanos , Irã (Geográfico)/epidemiologia , Masculino , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/economia , Traumatismos Ocupacionais/terapia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Fatores Sexuais , Transplante de Pele , Retalhos CirúrgicosRESUMO
This study was designed to document the consequences of electrical injury in Bangladesh. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to December 2003. Nationally representative data were collected from 171,366 rural and urban households, comprising a total of 819,429 population. Face-to-face interview was chosen as a data collection method. The overall rate of electrical injury was 73.7 per 100,000 population-year. The rate of permanent disability due to electrical injury in Bangladesh was 0.366 per 100,000 population-year. Among the total 604 non-fatal electrical injuries in the survey, 282 (46.7%) had suffered from temporary disabilities for different durations. A total of 172 students were injured from electrical injury and among them 139 (80.8%) missed school for different durations due to their illness. Mean duration of absence from school was 9.72 days (SD±10.98), ranging from 1 to 45 days. Among the working people average duration of work loss was 10.56 days (SD±14.98), ranging from 1 to 90 days. About 39% of the total patients with electrical injury were contributors to their family income. For each family the expenditure for each seriously injured patient due to electrical injury was USD 271. Electrical Injury is a major cause of morbidity in Bangladesh. It is responsible for significant loss of school days and work days and creating serious health and economic hardship for the inflicted families. A nationwide prevention program needs to be developed to address this problem.
Assuntos
Absenteísmo , Acidentes Domésticos/estatística & dados numéricos , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/epidemiologia , Pessoas com Deficiência/estatística & dados numéricos , Hospitalização/estatística & dados numéricos , Características de Residência , Acidentes Domésticos/economia , Bangladesh/epidemiologia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/economia , Efeitos Psicossociais da Doença , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Hospitalização/economia , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Masculino , Formulação de Políticas , População Rural/estatística & dados numéricos , Distribuição por Sexo , Fatores Socioeconômicos , População Urbana/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
Burns are an important cause of injury to young children, being the third most frequent cause of injury resulting in death behind motor vehicle accidents and drowning. Burn injuries account for the greatest length of stay of all hospital admissions for injuries and costs associated with care are substantial. The majority of burn injuries in children are scald injuries resulting from hot liquids, occurring most commonly in children aged 0-4 years. Other types of burns include electrical, chemical and intentional injury. Mechanisms of injury are often unique to children and involve exploratory behavior without the requisite comprehension of the dangers in their environment. Assessment of the burnt child includes airway, breathing and circulation stabilization, followed by assessment of the extent of the burn and head to toe examination. The standard rule of 9s for estimating total body surface area (TBSA) of the burn is inaccurate for the pediatric population and modifications include utilizing the Lund and Browder chart, or the child's palm to represent 1% TBSA. Further monitoring may include cardiac assessment, indwelling catheter insertion and evaluation of inhalation injury with or without intubation depending on the context of the injury. Risk factors and features of intentional injury should be known and sought and vital clues can be found in the history, physical examination and common patterns of presentation. Contemporary burn management is underscored by several decades of advancing medical and surgical care however, common to all injuries, it is in the area of prevention that the greatest potential to reduce the burden of these devastating occurrences exists.
Assuntos
Queimaduras/etiologia , Maus-Tratos Infantis , Acidentes/estatística & dados numéricos , Queimaduras/epidemiologia , Queimaduras/prevenção & controle , Queimaduras Químicas/epidemiologia , Queimaduras Químicas/etiologia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/epidemiologia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/etiologia , Criança , Maus-Tratos Infantis/estatística & dados numéricos , Pré-Escolar , Humanos , Lactente , Fatores de Risco , Tentativa de Suicídio/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
Fatal high-voltage injuries present a problem which has not yet been studied sufficiently in the context of interaction between the human body and electricity, as a technical, anthropogenic and natural phenomenon. The forensic medicine records of 291 cases of death caused by high-voltage current for a 41-year-long period (1965-2006) were examined in retrospect. The descriptive statistical analyses were made using the SPSS 11.0 software. Death was found to result most commonly from contact between the deceased and elements of the power transmission and distribution grid: (41.24%), and from the action of lightning: (32.3%), the difference in their relative share being insignificant. Much more rarely, death was due to contact with construction and repair electrical devices: (7.56%), or with elements of the power transport railway infrastructure: (6.87%). Death resulting from contact with agricultural electrical devices was only occasional: (0.68%). The victims' average age was 36.19 years. Our analysis indicates that the relative share (43.98%) of the victims is the highest in the age period between 25 and 44. The ratio between women and men is 1:21.38.
Assuntos
Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/mortalidade , Lesões Provocadas por Raio/mortalidade , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Bulgária/epidemiologia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Métodos Epidemiológicos , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Lesões Provocadas por Raio/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Distribuição por Sexo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
This study describes the occurrence of work-related injuries from thermal-, electrical- and chemical-burns among electric utility workers. We describe injury trends by occupation, body part injured, age, sex, and circumstances surrounding the injury. This analysis includes all thermal, electric, and chemical injuries included in the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Occupational Health and Safety Database (OHSD). There were a total of 872 thermal burn and electric shock injuries representing 3.7% of all injuries, but accounting for nearly 13% of all medical claim costs, second only to the medical costs associated with sprain- and strain-related injuries (38% of all injuries). The majority of burns involved less than 1 day off of work. The head, hands, and other upper extremities were the body parts most frequently injured by burns or electric shocks. For this industry, electric-related burns accounted for the largest percentage of burn injuries, 399 injuries (45.8%), followed by thermal/heat burns, 345 injuries (39.6%), and chemical burns, 51 injuries (5.8%). These injuries also represented a disproportionate number of fatalities; of the 24 deaths recorded in the database, contact with electric current or with temperature extremes was the source of seven of the fatalities. High-risk occupations included welders, line workers, electricians, meter readers, mechanics, maintenance workers, and plant and equipment operators.
Assuntos
Acidentes de Trabalho/estatística & dados numéricos , Queimaduras/epidemiologia , Traumatismos por Eletricidade/epidemiologia , Absenteísmo , Acidentes de Trabalho/economia , Acidentes de Trabalho/tendências , Adulto , Idoso , Queimaduras/economia , Queimaduras/etiologia , Queimaduras Químicas/economia , Queimaduras Químicas/epidemiologia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/economia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/epidemiologia , Efeitos Psicossociais da Doença , Traumatismos por Eletricidade/economia , Traumatismos por Eletricidade/etiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Ocupações/estatística & dados numéricos , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Indenização aos Trabalhadores/economia , Indenização aos Trabalhadores/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
In Turkey, burns represent a relatively small number of injuries overall, but they continue to be a major public health problem. Our aim in this study was to identify risk factors that affect outcome in burn patients hospitalized in the southern part of our country, with special emphasis on electrical burns. The database for 109 burn patients who were admitted to our burn center from April, 2000, through August, 2001, was retrospectively analyzed. Electrical injury was the cause of burn in 23 (21%) of the 109 cases. The burn causes differed among age groups and between the sexes, with males constituting 95% of the electrical burn patients. The mortality rate for the electrical burn group was lower than the rate for the rest of the burn patients (1/23 vs 17/86, respectively; P <.001); however, the opposite was true for complication rate (10/23 vs 5/86, respectively; P <.001), cost of treatment (8351 US dollars vs 5122 US dollars, respectively; P =.009), and length of hospital stay (39.9 vs 26.2 days, respectively; P < 0.001). The rate of electrical burn injury in Turkey has changed very little in the past two decades. This underlines the need for stronger efforts aimed at prevention, such as better public education and strict regulations regarding the distribution and use of electricity.
Assuntos
Queimaduras/classificação , Queimaduras/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Queimaduras/terapia , Queimaduras por Corrente Elétrica/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Custos de Cuidados de Saúde , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Tempo de Internação/economia , Tempo de Internação/estatística & dados numéricos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Distribuição por Sexo , Taxa de Sobrevida , Turquia/epidemiologiaRESUMO
During a period of 27 months, between 1991 and 1993, 15 patients with upper limb lesions caused by electrical hazards were admitted in the Burn Emergency Service of the Hospital das Clinicas-FMUSP. This lesion is usually a dramatic condition and requires a sound physiopathologic knowledge by the surgeon. These accidents may have permanent incapacitating sequelae, and due to long periods of treatment (2 months), social-economic costs are very high. Based on our experience, we suggest a less aggressive approach (no amputation at emergency), and a close continuous surveillance.