Burn injury and management in Liberia.

Burn care in developing countries remains a challenge. This paper reviews the acute burn care of 21 patients admitted during a 1-year period to a hospital in Liberia. Lack of supplies and education, coupled with the local belief system, reflect on patient management. The study population totalled 21 patients, ranging from 1 to 62 years of age. TBSA burns ranged from 2 to 60 per cent (mean 21 per cent), 61 per cent of patients were grafted. The time between burn and graft varied between 5 and 96 days (mean 29.8). Graft take varied between 40 and 100 per cent (mean 81 per cent). Of the grafted patients 66.6 per cent received blood (average 732 ml). At the time of presentation 61.9 per cent of patients had other illness. The average number of hospital days was 37.9 (range 2-76). The mortality rate was 14.2 per cent. When managing burns in a developing country, adoption of a simple, clearly defined method of treatment, together with education of the care-givers, is suggested. As in the developed world, however, prevention is the critical factor.