title: Epidemiology and financial implications of self-inflicted burns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cost of the treatment of burns is high especially in self-inflicted burns with prolonged treatment. We performed a retrospective review of the self-inflicted burns at our regional burns centre to determine the costs incurred in their management and to identify factors which could reduce the financial burden in the future.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data was collected retrospectively of all the inpatient and outpatient self-inflicted burns presenting to our regional burns centre in the year 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty one patients (out of a total of 870 patients) presented with self-inflicted burns to our centre in 2011. Five (23.8%) were major burns with an average of 53.2% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) and 16 (76.2%) were minor burns with an average of 0.5% TBSA. 11 (52.4%) patients had flame burns including 4 self-immolation burns. The mortality rate was 4.8% (n=1). Five (23.8%) patients underwent surgical treatment. Seven (33.3%) patients were treated in intensive care and with average stay of 46.85 days. Critical care and theatre attendances made up most of the costs with average ICU stay per patient calculated at £313,131/day. The total cost of all 21 patients was £1,581,856.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Burns are preventable injuries, early detection and intervention in patients with propensity to self-inflict burns can possibly reduce the costs of treatment in the future.
authors.affiliation: Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea SA6 6NL, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Samgeorge@dr.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea SA6 6NL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.affiliation: Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea SA6 6NL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hemington-Gorse
authors.affiliation: Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Morriston Hospital, Swansea SA6 6NL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wilson-Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002053:Burn Units; D002056:Burns / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003422:Critical Care / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Burn epidemiology; Cost analysis; Major burns; Morriston hospital; Self harm; Self-inflicted burns; Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery