Burns in elderly patients.

ABSTRACT

Admissions in the burn unit of IPGME & R, Calcutta over a period of 5 years from 1985 to 1990 have been reviewed. There were 1980 patients who had been treated and 84 of them were of 60 years of age or above. Mortality rate in elderly patients with burns had been found to be much higher. High mortality rate might be due to pre-existing medical problems and low general condition due to aging. Most of them were treated with conservative surgery. Early excision and grafting was the surgical approach in few cases with discouraging results.