Burns and amputations: a 24-year experience.
Although the management of the severely burnt extremity poses a significant therapeutic dilemma, burn injuries resulting in amputation are uncommon, In such cases, however, amputation can reduce the rate of mortality. In a total of 1858 patients from January 1980 to January 2004, there were 34 amputations in 27 patients. There were 23 men (age range, 14-64 years) and 4 women (age range, 34-85 years). The majority of amputations from burns caused by flame injury predominantly after motor vehicle accidents, with only eight cases resulting from high-voltage electrical injury. Nine patients required immediate amputations, with the rest being delayed. There were three deaths, with a survival rate of 89%. The majority of single lower-limb amputees and only one of seven bilateral amputees were independently mobile. The presence of pre-existing psychiatric disease significantly impaired rehabilitation. Free tissue transfer and the usage of bioengineered materials may help reduce the incidence of amputations.
NSW Severe Burn Injury Service, Concord Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Peter J
PJ
Kennedy
Wayne M
WM
Young
Anand K
AK
Deva
Peter A
PA
Haertsch
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D001132:Arm; D002053:Burn Units; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome