In our public bariatric programme, LAGB patients perform relatively poorly. An increased focus on SG may be appropriate as weight loss is more reliable, major reoperation rates are low and follow up less important. Our experience should be useful for those considering how best to structure and fund a public bariatric programme.
Objective
To determine whether the increased restrictions, isolation and stressors associated with COVID-19 led to an increase in rates or severity of self-immolation burn injuries.
Design
Retrospective review of a prospectively-collected database of New South Wales burn patients, comparing 2020 data with the preceding 5 years.
Setting
Both adult units in the New South Wales Statewide Burn Injury Service (Concord Repatriation General Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital).
Participants
All adult patients in New South Wales with self-inflicted burn injuries between 1st January 2015 and 31st December 2020.
Outcome measures
Demographic information, precipitating factors, burn severity, morbidity and mortality outcomes.
Results
There were 18 episodes of self-immolation in 2020, compared to an average of 10 per year previously. There were statistically significant increases in burn size (43% total body surface area vs 28%) and revised Baux score (92 vs 77). Most patients had a pre-existing psychiatric illness. Family conflict and acute psychiatric illness were the most common precipitating factors.
Conclusion
2020 saw an increase in both the frequency and severity of self-inflicted burn injuries in New South Wales, with psychiatric illness a major factor.
Acute trigger finger caused by partial flexor tendon injury is an uncommon but well-documented presentation. Surgical exploration not only confirms the diagnosis, but allows for excision of the damaged segment to return normal movement without compromising strength.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.