Soto et al identified predictors for amputation in patients with severe burns. The authors are from the National Burn Reference Center of Chile and Alejandro del Rio Public Assistance Hospital in Santiago, Chile.
Patient selection: severe burns
Amputations were performed in about 6% of the burn center patients.
Amputations were classified as major or minor (fingers or toes). 54% of amputations were major.
The electrical source was classified as high voltage if >= 1,000 V
Predictors of amputation (major minor):
(1) electrical burn (OR 13.8)
(2) impaired level of consciousness (alcohol, epilepsy, etc) at the time of the accident (OR 2.9)
(3) male gender (OR 2.1)
33% of patients with electrical burns had an amputation vs 4% for fire or scald.
74% of electrical burns with amputation were high voltage.
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