Dr Jason Diab¹, Dr Andrea Issler-Fisher¹, Mrs Miranda Pye¹, Ms Christine Parker¹, Dr Justine O’Hara¹, Prof Peter Kennedy¹, Prof Peter Haertsch¹, Prof Peter Maitz¹

¹Concord Hospital, Concord, Australia

Abstract:

Introduction:

Albeit a small percentage of the body affected (3.5%), foot burns can have major effects on hospitalisation, length of stay and long term outcomes. Our aim is to identify and classify epidemiological trends of foot burns at Concord hospital from 2014 – 2019. The secondary objective will examine the sub specific groups and how education can be implemented in a clinical setting.

Methods:

A retrospective audit from 2014 – 2019 at Concord General Repatriation Hospital Burns Unit summarised patient demographics, burn injury, operations and length of stay. All foot burn injuries from 2014 – 2019 of all ages and gender that attended Concord burns hospital were included in this study. A statistical analysis using SPSS assessed the relationship between linear data and correlation based on a level of significance set at p value of 0.05.

Results:

There were 886 patients whom presented with foot burns to the unit. The average age was 42.76 years with men (66.9%) more affected than females. The most common season for foot burns was summer. The most common mechanism of injury was scald burn (54.7%) followed by contact (17.8%). 15.2% of the cohort were diabetics. 80.1% of cases were not admitted and reviewed within the outpatient setting.  There was a statistically significant mean difference between diabetics and non-diabetics for TBSA [t(884) = 2.073, p =0.038], number of operating sessions [t(884)=-2.123, p=0.034], length of stay [t(884)=-2.430,p=0.015], gender [t(884)=4.547, P>0.001] and first aid adequacy [t(884)=6.926, p< 0.001]. Multiple regression analysis was undertaken to predict length of stay from age, gender, TBSA, mechanism of injury, season, and diabetes. From the model, TBSA, season and diabetes were statistically significant for increased length of stay F (6,879) = 34.051, P=0.02, R2 = 0.189.

Conclusions:

Foot burns poses a challenge for teams to manage requiring a holistic approach of care. Its morbidity and complications can require ongoing visits and operations with risk factors that can be optimized early on in treatment protocols.

Biography:

Jason is a SRMO at Concord Burns Unit with an interest in public health epidemiology prevention in burns.