Evaluation of clinical presentation and management outcome of burns, experience at secondary referral hospital in a low-income, sub-Saharan country: A cohort study

Abstract

Purpose

Burns are considered as serious health problem in low-income country. They lead to patients’ morbidity and mortality beside their burden on the health care system. This study was conducted to review the clinical presentation and management outcome in a secondary referral hospital in Sudan (sub-Saharan country).

Methods

This is a retrospective hospital-based cohort study. It was conducted during 2019–2021. Data was collected to determine socio-demographic characteristics of patients, site of burns, cause of burn and management outcome. Any patient presented with burns during the study periods was enrolled in the study area.

Results

Total number of surgical emergency admitted during the study periods were 8126. Total number of patients who are included in this study were 133 with male predominant (53 %). Seventy-two of them are below age of 10 years. Half of the patients (53 %) presented with scalding burn. Only, 36 % of them presented to the emergency department during the first 12 h. Seventy eight percentage of them were treated and discharged while 6 % of them died. Open wound dressing was done for 84 % of patients while skin graft was done in 12 % of patients.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the situation in a low-income setting with higher prevalence among children. There are challenges and difficulty in managing burn patients.