A retrospective analysis of 2713 hospitalized burn patients in a burns center in Turkey
Albayrak, Yavuz and Temiz, Ayetullah and Albayrak, Ayse and Peksoz,
Rifat and Albayrak, Fatih and Tanrikulu, Yusuf
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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, plaace 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.... Show more Show less