The impact of COVID-19 on adult burns: A statewide review of epidemiology and clinical outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the clinical presentations of burns and the provision of services. This study aims to describe and analyse patterns and trends in adult burns across New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory. METHODS: A NSW statewide retrospective review was conducted from 2017 to 2022 for adult patients with burns. A comparative analysis was performed for the COVID-19 group (2020-2022) and control group between 2017 and 2019. RESULTS: We found a total of 11,433 patients (7102 non-COVID vs 4331 COVID-19). The average age in the COVID-19 group was 1.4 years older than counterparts (40.6 vs 42.0, p < 0.001). The 18 - 25 and 36 - 45 age groups experienced significantly lower proportions of presentations, whereas, the 76-85 years experienced significantly higher proportions. There was a significantly higher proportion of pressure injuries (0.1% vs 0.4%, p < 0.001) and contact burns (17.2% vs 18.7%), but lower explosions (1.3% vs 0.2%) for the COVID-19 group compared to their counterparts. The mean TBSA% was 0.4% greater in the COVID-19 group compared to their counterparts (2.4 vs 2.8, p < 0.001). There were significantly more operating sessions (0.2 vs 0.3, p < 0.001). The mean length of stay was significantly greater by 0.8 days for the COVID-19 group compared to their counterparts (1.5 vs 2.3, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiological changes were not greatly different to previous years from the impact of COVID-19. The shift in elderly presentations and operative interventions reflects the holistic care of burns units working in a new landscape with an invigorated focus on telehealth and outpatient care.

Management of foot burns with an emphasis on high-risk groups.

BACKGROUND: Burns injuries are dynamic and evolve over time. Burn injuries to the feet present with seasonal variation, affecting clinical outcomes for certain high-risk groups. Although they affect a very small percentage of the body, burn injuries to the feet can affect mobility, morbidity and rehabilitation, particularly in patients with diabetes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to provide an understanding of seasonal variation in foot burns for high-risk groups and how to manage them appropriately. This article provides a comprehensive analysis on epidemiology, pathology and management, with the aim of providing guidance for general practitioners (GPs). DISCUSSION: The management of foot burns is multidisciplinary, involving GPs, allied health specialists, nurses, medical and surgical specialties. The epidemiological variations of these injuries have shown differences in clinical outcomes among high-risk groups such as the elderly and people with diabetes. Education and prevention are crucial in reducing the rate of injury in the rising number of patients in high-risk groups.