Citation

Hemington-Gorse S, Pellard S, Wilson-Jones N, Potokar T. Burns 2007; 33(8): 1041-1045.

Affiliation

The Welsh Regional Burns and Plastic Surgical Unit, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, South Wales SA6 6NL, United Kingdom. sgorse@doctors.org.uk

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.burns.2006.11.014

PMID

17433550

Abstract

This is a retrospective study of the epidemiology and management of isolated foot burns presenting to the Welsh Centre for Burns from January 1998 to December 2002. A total of 289 were treated of which 233 were included in this study. Approximately 40% were in the paediatric age group and the gender distribution varied dramatically for adults and children. In the adult group the male:female ratio was 3.5:1, however in the paediatric group the male:female ratio was more equal (1.6:1). Scald burns (65%) formed the largest group in children and scald (35%) and chemical burns (32%) in adults. Foot burns have a complication rate of 18% and prolonged hospital stay. Complications include hypertrophic scarring, graft loss/delayed healing and wound infection. Although isolated foot burns represent a small body surface area, over half require treatment as in patients to allow for initial aggressive conservative management of elevation and regular wound cleansing to avoid complications. This study suggests a protocol for the initial acute management of foot burns. This protocol states immediate referral of all foot burns to a burn centre, admission of these burns for 24-48 h for elevation, regular wound cleansing with change of dressings and prophylactic antibiotics.

Language: en