Cologne burn centre experience with assault burn injuries

Theodorou, P.; Spanholtz, T.A.; Amini, P.; Maurer, C.A.; Phan, T.Q.V.; Perbix, W.; Lefering, R.; Spilker, G.

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2009.02.009

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Volume 35, Issue 8 , Pages 1152-1157, December 2009

Cologne burn centre experience with assault burn injuries

P. Theodorou
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Merheim-Hospital University of Witten-Herdecke, 51109 Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), University of Witten-Herdecke, 51109 Cologne, Germany
- Corresponding author at: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Cologne City Hospitals (Merheim), Ostmerheimerstr. 200, 51109 Cologne, Germany. Tel.: +49 221 89073817; fax: +49 221 89073878.
T.A. Spanholtz
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Merheim-Hospital University of Witten-Herdecke, 51109 Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), University of Witten-Herdecke, 51109 Cologne, Germany
P. Amini
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Merheim-Hospital University of Witten-Herdecke, 51109 Cologne, Germany
C.A. Maurer
- Department of General, Visceral, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, Hospital of Liestal, 4410 Liestal, Switzerland
T.Q.V. Phan
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Merheim-Hospital University of Witten-Herdecke, 51109 Cologne, Germany
W. Perbix
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Merheim-Hospital University of Witten-Herdecke, 51109 Cologne, Germany
R. Lefering
- Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), University of Witten-Herdecke, 51109 Cologne, Germany
G. Spilker
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Merheim-Hospital University of Witten-Herdecke, 51109 Cologne, Germany

Accepted 16 February 2009.

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with assault burn injuries.

Background

Assault by burning demonstrates a rare but severe public health issue and accounts for unique injury characteristics in the burn intensive care unit (BICU).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving patients with thermal injuries admitted to the BICU of a university hospital. The patient cohort was divided into two groups (ABI group: patients with assault burns, n=41; Control group: population of all other burned patients admitted to the BICU, n=1202). Bivariate and multivariate analyses including demographic and socioeconomic data were used to identify factors associated with assault burns.

Results

Forty-one assault-related burn victims were identified in the study period. This represents 3.3% of all significant burns admitted. Comparing battery victims with the control population, assault patients were more likely to be young (mean age 36.2 years vs. 42.2 years) and immigrants (41.5% vs. 15.1%). Furthermore, marital status (65.9% vs. 40.8% singles), employment status (36.6% vs. 9.7% unemployed) and insurance status (41.5% vs. 12.3% social insurance) were significantly different in the bivariate analysis. Logistic regression evaluation identified three variables that were independently associated with assault burns: younger age (≤25 years) (odds ratio, 2.54 [95% confidence interval, 1.29–5.02]; p=0.007), ethnic minority (odds ratio, 3.71 [95% confidence interval, 1.91–7.20]; p<0.001) and unemployment (odds ratio, 4.02 [95% confidence interval, 2.03–7.97]; p<0.001).

Conclusions

The high incidence of youngsters, unemployment and the great proportion of immigrants in victims of assault might provide several opportunities for community-based psychosocial and occupational programs. A multidisciplinary approach targeting issues specific to the violent nature of the injury and the socioeconomic background of the victims may be of benefit to improve their perspectives for rehabilitation.

Keywords: Assault burn injury, Epidemiology