Amputations in Burn Patients with a Special Emphasis on Pediatric Patients

Objective: Digit and extremity amputations are unwanted complications in burn injuries. Although some amputations cause only cosmetic and psychological problems in burn patients, they can lead to serious loss in functionality and impairment in the quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiologic features of amputations among burn patients in the southeastern region of Turkey. Materials and Methods: We conducted retrospective chart reviews of patients hospitalized in Dicle University Burn Center between January 2011 and January 2016 and evaluated patient demographics. Results: A total of 3315 (2063 male and 1252 female) patients were treated, and 41 patients (36 males and 5 females) with a mean age of 21.95 years (range: 3-58 years) underwent amputation. The amputation incidence was 1.23% over the 5-year period. In total, 19 of 41 patients were under 16 years, while 16 were male workers. There was a significant male dominance (p<0.05), with electrical burns being the most common etiological agent (p<0.001). The mean burned total body surface area was 12.4±7.9% (range: 2-60%), and major amputations were significantly higher (p<0.05) if the area exceeded 10%. Conclusion: Electrical burns were the most common etiological factor, and pediatric patients were the most affected group. Educating parents and taking safety measures for protecting children from electrical contact points are as important as educating workers for diminishing the incidence of electrical burn-related amputations.