A retrospective analysis of 2713 hospitalized burn patients in a burns center in Turkey

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Burn trauma is a significant health problem that has physical, psychological, and economic repercussions on

affected patients. The aim of this study was to present epidemiological and demographic characteristics of patients treated over an

8-year period at a reference burn treatment center located in the northeast of Turkey and serving a population of approximately four

million people.

METHODS: Each patient’s medical record was reviewed, and demographic features, source of burns, place of residence, total body

surface area (TBSA), surgical treatment, duration of hospital stay, and mortality rates were analyzed.

RESULTS: The most frequent cause of burn was scalding from hot liquids (2013 cases, 74.2%). Freeze burn was observed in 16 (0.6%)

cases due to climatic conditions of the region where our burn center is located. Grouping based on TBSA revealed that 88.7% patients

had TBSA of 0%–15%, 8% patients had TBSA of 15%–30%, and 3.3% patients had TBSA ≥ %30.The most common microorganism was

Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A total of 24 patients (0.9%; 8 males, 16 females) died, including 7 children and 17 adults.

CONCLUSION: Removal of tandirs and replacement with high ovens, restriction of cheese and butter production under primitive

circumstances, encouraging cheese and butter production via dairy farm systems, and raising people’s awareness through training programs could greatly reduce the number of the burn accidents occurring in this region.

Keywords: Burn injury; freeze burn; scalding.