Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Assault inflicted by hot water

F J Duminy1, D A Hudson

  • 1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
|October 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

Hot water assaults are uncommon but often involve domestic violence, particularly affecting males assaulted by wives. Most victims sustained partial skin thickness burns requiring surgical intervention.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Medical aids and breast reduction: an oxymoron.

South African journal of surgery. Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir chirurgie·2021
Same author

Isn't it time for a cadaver skin bank in South Africa?

Annals of burns and fire disasters·2014
Same author

Ten principles for preventing biofilm-related infections in surgical practice.

South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde·2013
Same author

The scope of plastic surgery.

South African journal of surgery. Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir chirurgie·2013
Same author

Empyema caused by Clostridium difficile.

The Canadian journal of infectious diseases = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses·2012
Same author

The crouton dressing: an alternative technique to immobilize skin grafts in difficult areas.

Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries·2011

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Medicine
  • Burn Surgery
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Hot water assaults are infrequent but documented globally.
  • This study analyzes patient demographics, burn patterns, and outcomes in 127 intentional hot water assault cases over 7.5 years.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize patients intentionally assaulted with hot water.
  • To identify common burn locations and severity.
  • To inform medical professionals about recognizing assault-related burns.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case series analysis.
  • Data collected on patient demographics, assault circumstances, burn characteristics, treatment, and outcomes.
  • Statistical analysis of burn surface area, location, depth, and hospital stay.

Main Results:

  • 127 patients intentionally assaulted with hot water were analyzed.
  • Males (94) were more frequently assaulted than females (33), often by spouses.
  • Most patients were from lower socioeconomic groups, with upper body burns being most common (average 13.7% TBSA).
  • 84 patients had partial thickness burns requiring debridement and skin grafting.
  • Average hospital stay was 17 days.

Conclusions:

  • Upper body hot water burns in adults should prompt consideration of assault, especially with risk factors like alcohol abuse or lower socioeconomic status.
  • Partial skin thickness burns are typical, necessitating surgical intervention.
  • Psychosocial evaluation and intervention are crucial for victims of hot water assault.

Related Experiment Videos