Authors: Khaled ALFarra

Abstract

Background: Occupational burns are one of the major causes of accidental mortality and morbidity and have a significant financial burden on rehabilitation expenditures and hospitals. Such injuries cause patients to suffer from a wide range of complications based on the severity and grade of burn injuries. In Saudi Arabia, there is a lack of literature reporting occupational burn injury characteristics and patterns.

Aim: To identify the patterns and characteristics of occupational burn injuries managed at a plastic surgery unit in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This was a retrospective study that was conducted at a plastic surgery unit in-------hospital between the period from-------to---------. The study was conducted on individuals who were admitted to the hospital for occupational burn injuries. The data of patients were retrieved from the medical records.

Results: The study included 244 patients; 95.9% were males and 92.2% were non-Saudi patients. Of these, 64.3% had partial-thickness burns, and 20.1% were affected in the forearm and elbow. The length of stay was significantly linked with gender (P=0.01), burn extent, and sites (P˂0.001).

Conclusion: Occupational burn injuries were more prevalent among males and tended to be of partial thickness and affecting the upper limb and head and neck. Additionally, gender, site, and extent of such injuries affected the length of stay of patients in hospital.

Keywords: Characteristics, occupational burns, Saudi Arabia.