Medico-Legal Update
  • Year: 2011
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 2

Analysis of Fatal Burns Cases – A 5 year study at Sri B M Patil Medical College, Bijapur, Karnataka

  • Author:
  • Vishal V Koulapur1, K Yoganarsimha2, Hareesh Gouda3, Anand B Mugadlimath4, A G Vijay Kumar5
  • Total Page Count: 3
  • Page Number: 107 to 109

1Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, KLE University's J.N. Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India

2Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, BLDE University's Sri B M Patil College, Bijapur, Karnataka, India

3Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, KLE University's J.N. Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India

4Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, BLDE University's Sri B M Patil College, Bijapur, Karnataka, India

5Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, KLE University's J.N. Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to record and evaluate the causes and the magnitude of the fatal burn cases. This retrospective study of 5 years duration (2005 – 2009) was carried out in the Dept. of Forensic Medicine, Sri B M Patil Medical College, Bijapur, Karnataka. During this period a total number of 410 medico-legal autopsies were conducted, amongst them death due to burns constituted 119 cases (29.02%). The majority of deaths (34.5%) occurred between 21 to 30 years of age group with preponderance of females (74.78%). The majority of burn incidents were accidental (78.2%) in nature followed by suicidal (17.5%) and homicidal (4.3%) deaths. The percentage of burn (TBSA) over 40% was observed in most of the cases (92.5%). The majority of deaths occurred within a week (69.87%) and most the victims died because of septicemia (50.9%).

Keywords

Burns, Medico Legal autopsy, Mortality, Septicaemia