title: Acute management of white phosphorus burn.
abstract: White phosphorus is a combustible solid that is used in many of the smoke devices that are prevalent throughout the military arsenal. Exposure to phosphorus-containing compounds causes serious, often fatal, burns and can be the source of significant morbidity and lengthy hospital stays. I present the case of an individual with serious cutaneous phosphorus burns suffered at a munitions manufacturing plant. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the emergent treatments necessary in such patients and to discuss decontamination in the phosphorus-burned patient. Phosphorus-containing munitions are prevalent throughout the military arsenal, and all military physicians should be aware of these treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, 5005 North Piedras Street, El Paso, TX 79920, USA.
authors.forename: Kurt G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus