Related Experiment Videos
[Hospital admissions for burns]
Henning Onarheim1, Hallvard A Vindenes
1Kirurgisk serviceklinikk, Haukeland Universitetssykkehus, Bergen. henning.onarheim@helse-bergen.no
Summary
The incidence of hospital-admitted burns in Norway decreased by 20% from 1977 to 1999. Reconstructive surgery was underutilized, and early transfer to specialized burn centers is recommended.
Area of Science:
- Burn epidemiology
- Public health
- Trauma care
Background:
- Investigating the incidence of burn injuries and the scope of inpatient burn treatment in Norway.
- Analyzing trends in burn admissions and hospital resource utilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of burns requiring hospitalization in Norway.
- To assess the volume and characteristics of in-hospital burn care.
- To evaluate the need for specialized burn treatment and reconstructive procedures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Norwegian Patient Register for hospital admissions in 1999.
- Selected cases based on ICD-10 burn codes, excluding caustic injuries and minor stays.
- Analyzed patient demographics, length of stay, surgical interventions, and mortality.
Main Results:
- Identified 707 burn admissions, totaling 9444 hospital days; incidence was 13.5 per 100,000 inhabitants/year.
- Found that 50% of admissions and 40% of hospital days occurred in facilities lacking plastic surgery departments.
- Reported 24 deaths, with 50% of fatalities in patients over 80 years old; 29% of stays involved skin grafting.
Conclusions:
- Burn incidence decreased by 20% compared to 1977, but reconstructive procedure rates were low.
- Recommended increased access to reconstructive surgery options for burn patients.
- Suggested considering earlier transfer to specialized burn centers for a greater proportion of patients.