Epidemiology and Outcomes of Burn Injuries

OBJECTIVE: To examine the patterns, treatment practices, and outcomes of burn injuries over a 5-year period at a tertiary care center, focusing on mortality trends and factors influencing patient outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 377 patients hospitalized for burns between 2020 and 2024 at a tertiary care center. Data were collected using a modified questionnaire and analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics. We evaluated patient demographics, burn characteristics, treatment methods, and outcomes. We calculated the mean age and total body surface area (TBSA) and assessed mortality trends each year. RESULTS: The study included 254 males (67.4%) and 123 females (32.6%) with a mean age of 33.4 years and a mean TBSA of 27.4%. Thermal burns were the main cause (282 patients, 74.8%), followed by electrical burns (86 patients, 22.8%) and chemical burns (9 patients, 2.4%). Most injuries were accidental (367 patients, 97.3%). We used allografts in 99 patients (26.3%), which helped with wound excision and lowered the risk of infection. The overall mortality rate was 21.8% (82 patients), with males more affected. Despite consistent burn severity, mortality showed a notable decrease from 23.9% in 2020 to 7.9% in 2024. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows improvements in outcomes for major burn victims over the 5-year period, notably the drop in mortality rates. Introduction of measures such as barrier nursing and strict patient isolation, early aggressive tangential excision of wounds, along with the use of allografts postburn wound debridement. Ongoing investment in burn care infrastructure and access to better treatments may allow further reduction in complications and deaths related to burn injuries.