Medicolegal Study of Dry Thermal Burn Autopsy in Varanasi, India

Introduction: Dry thermal burns are one of the most devastating conditions encountered in health. The dry thermal burns injury represents an assault on all aspects of the patient, from the physical to the psychological. Autopsy has previously been shown to be a useful retrospective diagnostic tool; however we challenge its reliability as a result of our study. The percentage of TBSA involved is calculated; only partial-thickness and full-thickness burns are included in this calculation. Aim of the study: To find out how the dry thermal burn affects prevalence, surface area, degree of burn, cause of death. To highlights problem regarding burn deaths victims. Material and Methods:. Study data was collected for the duration from 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2014. During this period total of 450 burn death cases were recorded out of 3149 medico-legal postmortem conducted. Data was analyzed prospectively in respect of prevalence, surface area, degree of burn, cause of death. Observations and result: Total number of burn cases recorded for study during this period was 450(14.29%), which forms a considerable bulk and draws attention to the grievousness of this problem. In the present study it is observed that out of 450 studied cases, in 40.67% more than 91 % body surface area involved while in 8.67% cases. Fourth degree burn (Destruction of whole skin as per Dupuytren’s classification) dermoepiderml (as Wilsons) involve majority of victims 416 cases i.e. 92.44%. Most common cause of death was septicemic shock in 259 cases i.e. 57.56%. Conclusions: Educating the people about safety measures through various programmes, television, and other media.