Epidemiology of Hand Burn in Albania 2011-2016

INTRODUCTION: Hand burns occur commonly both as part of larger burn injuries as well as isolated injuries.AIM: To give an overview of epidemiologic features and outcome of burn hand patients who admitted to our Service. This study was performed at University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa†Tirana which is the only tertiary hospital in Albania.MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included all patients who had combustion of the hands solely or hands accompanied with burns to other areas of the body, treated and followed up at our service during the years 2011-2016.RESULTS: Of the 333 included burn patients, 64% were males. The median age of patients is 25.9 years. About half of patients belong to the age group 20-60 years (49.5%) and only 10.2% belong to the age of 60 years. In most of the cases (73.6%), the burn of hands is associated with the burn of the other anatomical region, mostly forearm.CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment is used for less 30% that of patients. The undesirable results of the burn of hands are presented in the 33% of the patients. The contractures were the main unfavourable outcome of the burned hand

Electrical Burns and Their Treatment in a Tertiary Hospital in Albania

INTRODUCTION: The electrical current burns represent a very aggressive pathology that leaves many functional and aesthetic consequences.AIM: To evaluate the epidemiology of electrical burn injury and its associated complications and treatment.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Demographic data, aetiology, burn percentage and other measures related to electrical burn injury of 33 electrical burn patients in a tertiary hospital during the years 2015-2017.RESULTS: The mean age of patients is 31 (± 8.3) years old with a predominance of males (94%). The vast majority of injuries occurred at work (p < 0.01), superior extremities were more affected with hand (21.2%) and fingers (18.2%) being the main point of contact (p < 0.01). Muscular fasciotomy was performed in all patients who were treated surgically (n = 27), amputation was performed in 11 (40.7%) of cases, but amputated sites were more than the number of patients affected. Myoglobinuria (39.4%), cardio-respiratory distress (12.1%) contusion cerebri (6.1%), were the complication encountered in patients.CONCLUSIONS: Electrical burn injuries are still amongst the highest accident-related morbidities. Educating the population about the dangers and hazards associated with improper use of electrical devices and instruments is imperative

The 6th Albanian Congress of Trauma and Emergency Surgery

After a three-year quarantine from the deadliest global pandemic of the last century, ASTES is organizing to gather all health professionals in Tirana, The 6th Albanian Congress of Trauma and Emergency Surgery(ACTES 2022) on 11-12 November 2022, with the topic Trauma & Emergency Surgery and not only...with the aim of providing high quality, the best standards, and the best results, for our patients ...ACTES 2022 is the largest event that ASTES (Albanian Society for Trauma and Emergency Surgery) has organized so far with 230 presentations, and 67 foreign lecturers with enviable geography, making it the largest national and wider scientific event.The scientific program is as strong as ever, thanks to the inclusiveness, where all the participants with a mix of foreign and local lecturers, select the best of the moment in medical science, innovation, and observation.The scientific committee has selected all the presentations so that the participants of each medical discipline will have something to learn, discuss, debate, and agree with updated methods, techniques, and protocols.I hope you will join us on Friday morning, and continue the journey of our two-day event together