Epidemiology of hand burn in Albania 2011-2016

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Hand burns occur commonly both as part of larger burn injuries as well as isolated injuries. AIM: To give an overview of epidemiologic features and outcome of burn hand patients who admitted to our Service. This study was performed at University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa” Tirana which is the only tertiary hospital in Albania. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included all patients who had combustion of the hands solely or hands accompanied with burns to other areas of the body, treated and followed up at our service during the years 2011-2016. RESULTS: Of the 333 included burn patients, 64% were males. The median age of patients is 25.9 years. About half of patients belong to the age group 20-60 years (49.5%) and only 10.2% belong to the age of 60 years. In most of the cases (73.6%), the burn of hands is associated with the burn of the other anatomical region, mostly forearm. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment is used for less 30% that of patients. The undesirable results of the burn of hands are presented in the 33% of the patients. The contractures were the main unfavourable outcome of the burned hand.