Foot burns: epidemiology and management.
This is a retrospective study of the epidemiology and management of isolated foot burns presenting to the Welsh Centre for Burns from January 1998 to December 2002. A total of 289 were treated of which 233 were included in this study. Approximately 40% were in the paediatric age group and the gender distribution varied dramatically for adults and children. In the adult group the male:female ratio was 3.5:1, however in the paediatric group the male:female ratio was more equal (1.6:1). Scald burns (65%) formed the largest group in children and scald (35%) and chemical burns (32%) in adults. Foot burns have a complication rate of 18% and prolonged hospital stay. Complications include hypertrophic scarring, graft loss/delayed healing and wound infection. Although isolated foot burns represent a small body surface area, over half require treatment as in patients to allow for initial aggressive conservative management of elevation and regular wound cleansing to avoid complications. This study suggests a protocol for the initial acute management of foot burns. This protocol states immediate referral of all foot burns to a burn centre, admission of these burns for 24-48 h for elevation, regular wound cleansing with change of dressings and prophylactic antibiotics.
Hemington-Gorse
S
S
The Welsh Regional Burns and Plastic Surgical Unit, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, South Wales SA6 6NL, United Kingdom. sgorse@doctors.org.uk
Pellard
S
S
Wilson-Jones
N
N
Potokar
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002053:Burn Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology