A Focused Look On The State Of Burn Injury: Case Study of a Tertiary Institution in Nigeria.

CONTEXT AND AIM: Burn injury is common. Measures that reduce morbidity and mortality have been the gold standard of treatment. There is a need for a regular review to assess the impact of such measures and their availability.METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 138 consecutive patients that presented to the burn unit of our hospital with acute burns over a fiveyear period.RESULTS: Ninety-two patients (66.7%) were males and 46 (33.3%) females with an age range of 2 months to 86 years. Flame was the most common cause of the injury. Fifty-five percent of the burn injuries occurred indoor. Late presentation was a usual occurrence. Artisans, students and traders constitute the majority of patients. The mortality rate was 45.8%. CONCLUSION: Burn remained a serious issue with high mortality in our environment. There is need for critical appraisal of the preventive measures and management principles currently being practised.