Pressure related injuries: A burning issue?

To the majority of health care professionals, burns present as a challenging and potentially distracting diagnosis. Because of their perceived complexity, they often eclipse other medical problems which can often be life threatening. Pressure related injuries, in rare instances can mimic and be mistaken for full thickness burns. Long lies may cause pressure necrosis of decubitus areas and compartment syndrome of vulnerable areas. Compartment syndrome, is a surgical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and intervention. It may be missed in the context of a long lie after a collapse and maybe detrimental to patients' prognosis.

We reviewed cases referred to our Burns unit in the last four months to find cases of pressure related injuries referred as burn wounds. Furthermore, we also performed a literature search to find any similar cases to ours.

Two cases, with acute pressure related injuries from long lies had been mistaken for burn wounds, were referred to our unit in the last four months. In one case a missed compartment syndrome resulted in a below elbow amputation.

Pattern analysis and recognition are very important diagnostic tools in medicine. Detailed history taking and examination cannot be emphasised enough. Training both emergency departments and plastic surgeons in recognising long lie related injuries will decrease possible associated dangers such as missing a compartment syndrome.