Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
Los Angeles County Regional Burn Center, Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center, USA.
J Burn Care Res. 2021 Sep 30;42(5):886-893. doi: 10.1093/jbcr/irab095.
Tent fires are a growing issue in regions with large homeless populations given the rise in homelessness within the United States and existing data that suggest worse outcomes in this population. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of tent fire burn injuries in the homeless population. A retrospective review was conducted involving two verified regional burn centers with patients admitted for tent fire burns between January 2015 and December 2020. Variables recorded include demographics, injury characteristics, hospital course, and patient outcomes. Sixty-nine patients met the study inclusion criteria. The most common mechanisms of injury were by portable stove accident, assault, and tobacco or methamphetamine related. Median percent total body surface area (%TBSA) burned was 6% (interquartile range [IQR] 9%). Maximum depth of injury was partial thickness in 65% (n = 45) and full thickness in 35% (n = 24) of patients. Burns to the upper and lower extremities were present in 87% and 54% of patients, respectively. Median hospital length of stay (LOS) was 10 days (IQR = 10.5) and median ICU LOS was 1 day (IQR = 5). Inhalation injury was present in 14% (n = 10) of patients. Surgical intervention was required in 43% (n = 30) of patients, which included excision, debridement, skin grafting, and escharotomy. In-hospital mortality occurred in 4% (n = 3) of patients. Tent fire burns are severe enough to require inpatient and ICU level of care. A high proportion of injuries involved the extremities and pose significant barriers to functional recovery in this vulnerable population. Strategies to prevent these injuries are paramount.
帐篷火灾在美国家庭无家可归人口增长的地区是一个日益严重的问题，而且现有数据表明，无家可归者的情况更糟。本研究旨在描述无家可归人群中帐篷火灾烧伤的特征和结局。对 2015 年 1 月至 2020 年 12 月期间在两个经过验证的地区烧伤中心因帐篷火灾烧伤住院的患者进行了回顾性研究。记录的变量包括人口统计学特征、损伤特征、住院过程和患者结局。69 名患者符合研究纳入标准。最常见的损伤机制是便携式炉灶事故、袭击、与烟草或冰毒有关。烧伤总面积中位数为 6%（四分位距 [IQR]9%）。65%（n=45）的患者损伤深度为部分厚度，35%（n=24）的患者损伤深度为全厚度。上肢和下肢烧伤分别见于 87%和 54%的患者。中位住院时间（LOS）为 10 天（IQR=10.5），中位 ICU LOS 为 1 天（IQR=5）。14%（n=10）的患者存在吸入性损伤。43%（n=30）的患者需要手术干预，包括切除、清创、植皮和切开减压。住院期间有 4%（n=3）的患者死亡。帐篷火灾烧伤严重，需要住院和 ICU 级别的治疗。很大一部分损伤涉及四肢，这对这个弱势群体的功能恢复构成了重大障碍。预防这些伤害的策略至关重要。
