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Self-inflicted burns in Mosul: a cross-sectional study.
1Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Assistant Professor, Head- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Mosul, Iraq.
Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters
|March 8, 2013
Summary
Self-inflicted burns are a significant cause of hospital admissions, often involving extensive body surface area and high mortality rates. Accidental burns are more common and less severe, with scalds being the primary cause.
Area of Science:
- Medical research
- Burn injury epidemiology
- Public health
Background:
- Self-inflicted burns represent a critical public health concern, necessitating a deeper understanding of their characteristics.
- Distinguishing between attempted suicide by self-inflicted burns and accidental burn injuries is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the characteristics of self-inflicted burn cases with accidental burn cases.
- To analyze demographic, etiological, and outcome differences between these two groups of burn injuries.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Jumhoori Teaching Hospital's Burns Unit in Mosul.
- Data from 459 burn admissions over one year (March 2011-March 2012) were analyzed, comparing self-inflicted burns (n=103) with accidental burns.
Main Results:
- Self-inflicted burns constituted 22.44% of admissions, with a mean total body surface area burned of 61% compared to 20% in accidental burns (P=0.0001).
- Flame was the primary agent in self-inflicted burns, while scalds predominated in accidental burns (56.5%). Significant differences in sex ratios (1:11.9 vs. 1:1) and mean ages (24.3 vs. 15.6 years) were observed.
- Case fatality rates were markedly higher for self-inflicted burns (80.6%) than accidental burns (14.9%).
Conclusions:
- Self-inflicted burns are a substantial cause of burn unit admissions, characterized by extensive burn areas and high mortality.
- The use of accelerants in suicide attempts by self-inflicted burns contributes significantly to their severe outcomes and high fatality rates.
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