ABSTRACT
The term "fourth-degree burn" is not very often found in the literature because it is often associated with lethal injury. These injuries are characterized by exposure of viable tissue such as tendon or bone and are associated with challenging wound closure. The goal of reconstruction is to provide adequate soft tissue coverage and restoration of function. Several treatment modalities have been used to serve this purpose. We present four male patients with fourth-degree burns of the extremities, treated with negative pressure wound therapy. The patients' age ranged from 15 to 49 yr (mean, 28 yr). The total body surface area burned ranged from 3 to 60% (mean, 34.25%). Negative pressure wound therapy was applied for 16-30 days (mean, 23.75 days). Three split-thickness skin grafts and one bipedicled local flap were performed. Wound closure was completed in 28 to 50 days. The results were satisfactory for both physicians and patients. Our longest follow-up was three years. The results achieved in this group of patients revealed the negative pressure wound therapy was a reliable alternative method in the treatment of fourthdegree burns.
ABSTRACT
Even if calculating the exact cost of burn treatment is a very hard task, the study of cost analysis provides financial perspective. We performed a cost analysis study in our burn centre to respond to questions about total patient treatment cost and the length of hospital stay. We reviewed all patients admitted to the Gulhane Military Medical Academy Burn Centre in Ankara, Turkey, between March 2005 and August 2008. Forty-three patients with major burns were identified on the basis of the study criteria. The data regarding total treatment cost and the length of hospital stay for each type of burn (flame, scald, electric) were collected at the end of the study. The average total body surface area burned was 36 ± 7%.. The average duration of hospital stay was 73 ± 33 days. Patients with electrical burns stayed longer in hospital than patients with other types of burn injuries. Each one per cent of burn corresponded to a mean hospital stay of two days. The overall mean total cost was $US 15,250. The mean total cost of electrical burns was the highest, with $US 22,501 ± 24,039. Even if the costs associated with burn injury are higher than some other well-known health-related problems, they have not been much studied. Reports have produced different results, but it should be kept in mind that although the results of cost analysis studies may vary they must be performed in all newly established burn centres in order to form a financial overview.