title: Thermal trauma resulting from motor vehicle operation or maintenance.
abstract: Burn injury may result from the operation or maintenance of motor vehicles. We reviewed the experience of one burn center with injuries related to motor vehicle use over the 6 year period 1987-1992. One hundred and fifty patients with motor vehicle related burns were identified comprising 11.3% of all admissions for this period. The mean extent of burn injury was 22.8% total body surface area with a mean full thickness (third degree) burn size of 11.7%. The average hospital length of stay was 42.41 days. The most common mechanisms of injury were collisions resulting in fire (n = 48), carburetor priming (n = 37) and scalding from radiator fluid contact (n = 27). Burns resulting from vehicle operation or maintenance are costly and potentially preventable.
authors: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA.
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Barillo
authors: W G
authors: WG
authors: Cioffi
authors: W F
authors: WF
authors: McManus
authors: B A
authors: BA
authors: Pruitt
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001336:Automobiles; D002053:Burn Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology