Petrol burns in Australia and New Zealand – a comparison of two countries

Nicholas Savage³, Zakary Doherty³, Yvonne Singer³, Hana Menezes³, Heather Cleland^2,3, Paul Baker⁴, Stephen Goldie^1,2,3,
¹Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
²Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
³Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
⁴Middlemore Hospital , Auckland New Zealand

Abstract

Background: Australia and New Zealand (NZ) have different healthcare systems, however, share similarities in burns care through training of healthcare professionals. Petrol burns are a cause of major injury in both countries, but outcomes may vary due to differences in population patterns and legislation. We examined these differences in order to develops targets for prevention in the two countries.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using the Burn Registry of Australia and NZ in patients aged greater than 16 years. Data regarding demographic, injury severity and in-hospital outcomes were analysed.

Results: There were 2655 and 406 patients included for analysis from Australia and NZ respectively, with the overall majority (88%) being male. Time of injury was more likely to be daytime in NZ (P<0.001) and the cause of injury was more frequently campfire/burnoff (47% vs 39%) and vehicle engine/parts (16% vs 12%) in Australia. Self-harm was more common in NZ (P<0.001). Inhalation injury and total body surface area (TBSA) injured were both greater in NZ than Australia (19% vs 11%, P<0.001 and 12% vs 7%, P<0.001). Escharotomy and ICU admission were required more frequently in NZ (8.8% vs 4.1%, P<0.001 and 30% vs 24%, P=0.012). The mortality rate in NZ was almost double that of Australia (4.2% vs 2.4%, P<0.001). Conclusion: Patients with petrol burns in NZ suffer these injuries in different circumstances and with worse outcomes compared to Australia. This requires further research to inform government policy and industry changes with the goal of preventing these devastating injuries.

Biography

Nicholas is a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Resident at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.