Christine Andrews¹, Margit Kempf², Roy Kimble³, Leila Cuttle⁴

¹ Centre for Children’s Burns and Trauma Research, The University of Queensland, Centre for Child Health Research, South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101. c.andrews@uq.edu.au
² Centre for Children’s Burns and Trauma Research, The University of Queensland, Centre for Child Health Research, South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101. kempfm@uq.edu.au
³ Centre for Children’s Burns and Trauma Research, Children’s Health Queensland, Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101. royk@uq.edu.au
⁴ Centre for Children’s Burns and Trauma Research, Queensland University of Technology, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Centre for Children’s Health Research, South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101. leila.cuttle@qut.edu.au

Introduction

Despite legislation, many hot water taps in Australian homes deliver water at greater than 50⁰C. Clinicians are often required to provide ‘expert opinion’ regarding the heat dose (temperature and duration) required to cause deep partial thickness immersion injuries.

Methods

A porcine scald model was used to examine a range of burn conditions, from 50 to 60⁰C water, for 5 seconds to 10 minutes duration. Eleven juvenile pigs were used. Wound examination, biopsies and Laser Doppler Imaging were performed at 1, 24 hours and at 3 and 7 days post-burn. A subset of burns were followed for 21 days to observe wound healing.

Results

Histologically, significantly deeper dermal damage was observed for 55°C compared to 50°C water for 1 to 5 minute scalds (p < 0.001). Exposure to 50°C water for ≥ 10 minutes caused a deep dermal burn, 55°C water for ≥ 2 minutes produced an equivalent injury. By day 7, 60°C for 5 seconds showed no histological evidence of damage, whereas 60°C for ≥ 30 seconds showed tissue injury in the deep dermis. By day 21, 60°C for ≥ 1 minute scalds were still un-reepithelialised.

Conclusions

Novel scientific evidence for medicolegal use regarding the heat dose required to sustain a deep partial thickness immersion scald is presented. Importantly, quantitative histological data is translated to the clinically relevant outcome of time to healing. Compliance with hot tap water regulation is vital as a 5°C increase (from 50°C to 55°C) reduces the time taken to sustain a severe deep dermal burn from ≥ 10 minutes to only 2 minutes.

Key Words

Scald burns, burn depth, hot tap water safety, immersion scalds

Biography

Christine Andrews is a PhD student from the University of Queensland working with the Children’s Burns and Trauma Research group at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane. She commenced her studies in May 2014, prior to this she worked as a veterinarian in private practice for over 15 years. Her field of interest is the pathophysiology of scald burns.