Surgical Reconstruction of Attempted Suicide Charcoal Burns

Abstract

Burning charcoal in an enclosed space is now the second most-common method of committing suicide in Hong Kong. When the suicide is unsuccessful, the patients can still sustain extensive tissue destruction from both direct and indirect thermal burns. We report a series of three patients who sustained deep injuries that, after débridement, left exposed bones and joints needing acute coverage. Free tissue transfer was required in each case to close the wounds. This short series illustrates the extensive destruction that can occur from both contact burns and radiant heat injury and the reconstructive challenges that can result. Of particular note was that serial débridment was necessary in the radiant heat injury because of the evolving and more extensive nature of the wound.

Repair of a wide lower extremity defect with cross-leg free transfer of latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior combined flap: a case report

“…A combined latissimus dorsi with serratus anterior transfer was also reported previously by Burd [9] as a salvage procedure. However, this case was referred to our hospital on 10th day after injury.…”

A decompositional analysis of the relative contribution of age, sex and methods of suicide to the changing patterns of suicide in Taipei City, 2004–2006

“…The first study of this approach in Hong Kong demonstrated a positive effect of reducing deaths;28 this requires replication in different regions to ascertain its effectiveness and potential for wider application. It will also be important in the future to debunk the misimpression that suicide using charcoal burning is a painless and peaceful way of dying; attempters sometimes receive severe burns when placing themselves close to the burning coals 29 30…”