Burn Injuries Resulting from Hot Water Bottle Use: A Retrospective Review of Cases Presenting to a Regional Burns Unit in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Introduction. Hot water bottles are commonly used to relieve pain and for warmth during the colder months of the year. However, they pose a risk of serious burn injuries. The aim of this study is to retrospectively review all burn injuries caused by hot water bottles presenting to our regional burns unit. Methods. Patients with burns injuries resulting from hot water bottle use were identified from our burns database between the periods of January 2004 and March 2013 and their cases notes reviewed retrospectively. Results. Identified cases involved 39 children (aged 17 years or younger) and 46 adults (aged 18 years or older). The majority of burns were scald injuries. The mean %TBSA was 3.07% (SD ± 3.40). Seven patients (8.24%) required debridement and skin grafting while 3 (3.60%) required debridement and application of Biobrane. One patient (1.18%) required local flap reconstruction. Spontaneous rupture accounted for 48.20% of injuries while accidental spilling and contact accounted for 33% and 18.80% of injuries, respectively. The mean time to heal was 28.87 days (SD ± 21.60). Conclusions. This study highlights the typical distribution of hot water bottle burns and the high rate of spontaneous rupture of hot water bottles, which have the potential for significant burn injuries.

Cases of Lower Extremity and Perianal Burns at the Burn Center in the Southeast Anatolia of Turkey

“…In Jabir et al's study, the mean healing time of burn wounds was 24.06 days in children and 32.34 days in adults. 5 In the current study, 75.6% of the patients were younger than 14 years old, and the mean healing time was 23.9 ± 50.0 days. The present study supports the views of Jabir's and Viljanto et al's studies that perineal burn wounds heal faster in children.…”

“…The present study supports the views of Jabir's and Viljanto et al's studies that perineal burn wounds heal faster in children. 5,7…”

“…Jabir et al reported that scalding burns are primarily seen in winter and encountered the least in summer. 5 Turkey is a country that bridges Asia, the Middle East and Europe. This connection is both geographical and cultural.…”

“…The present study supports the views of Jabir's and Viljanto et al's studies that perineal burn wounds heal faster in children. 5,7 The incidence of sepsis in perianal burns varies from 1% to 13%. A temporary colostomy is a traditional method of preventing faecal contamination of the burned perineal area.…”

Characterization of isolated bacteria from burn patients and its susceptibility against different antibiotics in district Swat

“…Burn is an injury to the skin or other body tissues caused by various agents like thermal injury, scalds, fire, electrical shock and chemical injury [1]. Skin is the thin layer of tissue form the natural outer covering of body of a person or animal.…”