Medico-legal Aspects of Burned Cases Admitted to Burn Unit in Tanta University Hospital

Abstract

Background: Burns continue to be a medical, psychological and economic problem in developed and developing countries. Burns in Egypt represent a major problem as compared with heart diseases, malignancy and road accidents. Objectives: Accordingly, this work was conducted to study the medico legal aspects of burned cases and the magnitude of burn problem in Burn Unit in Tanta University Hospital. Study design: This study was cross sectional, conducted over six months where (160) burned cases admitted to Burn Unit in Tanta University hospital from the start of March 2013 to the end of August 2013. All the patients were included except old burn injuries. Patients were interviewed, clinically examined and investigated, and then data were collected in a specially designed sheet for every patient. Results: One hundred and sixty cases admitted to Burn Unit in Tanta University Hospital during a period of six months from the start of March 2013 to the end of August 2013. The highest percentage of patients was among the age group less than 10 years (38.125%). The majority of the studied cases were distributed among males (58.1%) in rural areas (61.9%). Burns at home constituted (84.4%) of burns. Concerning the agent causing burn, flame constituted (51.9%) followed by scald (37.5%), chemical (6.3%) and electrical burns (4.4%). Most flame burns were due to explosion of gas cylinder. Most burns were of second degree (49.37%), distributed all over the body (43.8%) and involved 15-30% total body surface area (TBSA) (40%). Accidental burns accounted for 95% of all cases followed by suicidal and homicidal cases (3.1 and 1.9% respectively). All suicidal cases were females, caused by flame and distributed all over the body with involvement of more than 60% TBSA. While homicidal cases were males in urban areas. Respiratory complications were the commonest cause of death (38.9%). It could be concluded that intensive educational programs concerning burn dangers, proper prevention, safety measures and regular servicing of gas appliances must be followed. Psychological autopsy is needed in suicidal cases.

Study of Medicolegal Aspects of Burnt Cases Admitted to Burn Unit, Assiut university Hospitals: retrospective study

“…This can be explained by unawareness of children and their exploring nature and activity in addition to lack of proper supervision from parents especially in crowded houses of low socioeconomic classes (Attia et al, 1997). This was in accordance with Heshmat et al (2014) on their study on burnt patients in burn unit in Tanta university hospital also, the same finding was found by Hassen et al (2010) in their study on burnt patients in Assiut university hospital burn unit. However, Afify et al (2012) founded that adult group of age are more affected with burn injury being the age of activity and power with increased risk to exposure to fire followed by children group.…”

“…This may be due to the high incidence of scald injuries in the current study which usually causes superficial type of injuries. The same finding was observed by Heshmat et al (2014) who found that second degree Study of Medicolegal Aspects of Burnt Cases burns were the commonest type of burn in their study in burn unit in Tanta university hospital. Jaiswal et al (2007) reported that third degree burns were the commonest type of burn in their study in India.…”

“…84% of cases included in the present study ended in complete cure. Heshmat et al (2014) reported 36.9% improvement among burnt cases in Minoufiya University Hospital Burn Unit. Whereas Jaiswal et al (2007)reported 62.4 % mortality rate among studied burnt victims.…”

“…On the opposite site Nath et al (2015) reported that shock was the main cause of death in his study in North east India. Heshmat et al (2014) on the contrary, observed that respiratory tract complications were the main cause of death.…”