Burns unit in Stockholm: a report on patients treated 1971--1975 for acute burn injuries

A review of 297 burn patients treated 1971--1975 is presented to illustrate burn problems in a West European, mainly urban population. Patients were treated by exposure and warm dry air. Tubbing usually started five days after injury. Sequential wound revisions were performed. Surgical excision was usually delayed until days 14--21. Autografting was performed as soon as possible. For temporary cover homografts were frequently used. The majority of the patients were adults. Twelve per cent were older than 65 years. The patients revealed many social problems. Cardiopulmonary disease, mental disorder and alcohol or drug addiction were fairly common. The most common cause of the burn was fire and a majority of the patients sustained injuries in leisure time. 28% were classified as due to accident. 43% were considered diagnosed in 17 patients (5.7%). Five patients died due to septicemia.