title: Thermal injury in patients with seizure disorders: an opportunity for prevention.
abstract: Serious burn injuries are a potential threat to patients with seizure disorder. There are limited studies addressing this issue. Therefore, a retrospective study was undertaken with two goals: one to develop better understanding of this potential threat and two to create a prevention message regarding seizure-related burns. The burn center registry was reviewed to ascertain the number of patients who sustained burn injury during or directly after a seizure from 2000 to 2005. Thirty-two patients were admitted (44% female, 56% male) with mean age of 39 years (SD +/- 10.4) after sustaining a burn during or after a seizure. Average TBSA was 8.3% (SD +/- 4.8) with 72% of patients experiencing full-thickness burns. The three most prevalent etiologies were falling into a stove while cooking (34%; n = 11), falling on hot pavement (31%; n = 10), and falling into a campfire (9%; n = 3). A full 88% of patients (n = 28) reported a previous diagnosis of seizure disorder, whereas the other 9% (n = 3) reported seizures related to alcohol consumption. Laboratory reports revealed 20 patients (63%) had subtherapeutic levels of antiseizure medication, 1 patient (3%) had toxic levels, and 5 patients (16%) were not being treated for seizures. Upon discharge, 23 patients went home with family, 5 were discharged to skilled nursing, 1 to a homeless shelter, 1 died, and 2 patients were lost to follow-up. Because of the severe burns observed in epileptic burn patients, a burn-prevention brochure was developed and is being distributed to seizure patients and their families.
authors.affiliation: Arizona Burn Center, Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85008, USA.
authors.forename: Ruth B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Rimmer
authors.forename: R Curtis R
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bay
authors.forename: Kevin N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Melanie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wadsworth
authors.forename: Collette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lessard
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mathieson
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Caruso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001130:Arizona; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D010174:Pamphlets; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants