Facial and ocular injuries associated with methamphetamine production accidents.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relative contribution of methamphetamine production-related accidents to facial and ocular injuries admitted to a regional burn unit.


METHODS
Retrospective observational case series.


METHODS
Chart review of all patients admitted to the Burn Unit at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) over a 16-month interval.


RESULTS
Methamphetamine related accidents were responsible for thirteen (9.8%) of 132 patients admitted with facial burns to UIHC during the study period. All victims were male. In addition to facial burns, eight patients (14 eyes) suffered chemical or thermal burns of the ocular surface of Hughes grade I or worse. One patient required full-thickness skins grafts for cicatricial ectropion of all four eyelids.


CONCLUSIONS
In endemic areas such as Iowa, methamphetamine production accidents contribute to as many as 10% of admissions to burn care units for facial and ocular injuries.
Charukamnoetkanok
Puwat
P
Cornea and External Disease Division, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
Wagoner
Michael D
MD
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002053:Burn Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D008694:Methamphetamine