title: Burns due to acid assaults in Sri Lanka.
abstract: Acid burn causes a nonthermal trauma, with higher prevalence in developing countries. These burns are potentially lethal if it involves a significant proportion of the body surface. A retrospective review was performed by analyzing patient records of the Burns and Reconstructive Surgical Unit for 18 months. We received 46 acid burn patients due to assaults, which is 4% of the total number of burn patients during the period. The age range was 12 to 60 years, and 63% of the patients were between 21 and 40 years. The male to female ratio was 2.8:1. The type of acid was known in only 20 (43%) patients, the commonest being formic acid (41%). The average TBSA burnt was 14.6% in acid assaults, and the commonly involved areas were the face (93%), chest (65%), and upper limbs (64%). Mortality was 4.34%. Excision and grafting were required in 20 (43.4%) patients. Only 18 (39%) were attending rehabilitation. Acid burns in Sri Lanka commonly occur due to assaults, with a distinctive pattern of skin and body involvement. Management and rehabilitation require a multidisciplinary approach to prevent deformity and disability. These cases demonstrate poor compliance with rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Kolitha P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Karunadasa
authors.forename: Chandini
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kanagaratnum
authors.forename: Upul P
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Wijerathne
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Samarasingha
authors.forename: Chinthaka K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Kannangara
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000143:Acids