F.M. Tripathi

Accessory scrotum: a case report

Abstract Another example is presented of a rare congenital abnormality: an accessory scrotum—its clinical and histological features are described.

Electrical burns: a review of 80 cases

Abstract Eighty cases of electrical burns admitted over a period of 12 years from 1965 have been analysed with respect to age and sex distribution, incidence, site of burn, mode of electrical contact, management and complications. Mortality in the present review was 3–75 per cent. It is felt that before undertaking massive rural electrification in a developing community, the hazards of electricity should be explained by various means, including the use of audio-visual aids, since the majority of these accidents are avoidable and occur in the younger age groups.

Traumatic avulsion of penile and scrotal skin

Due to the use of high speed machinery in industry and the rapid mechanisation of agriculture an increasing number of avulsion injuries are being referred for treatment. This paper describes our experience in the management of ten patients with extensive traumatic avulsion of the penile and scrotal skin, treated by primary split-thickness skin grafting.

Repair of burns of the scrotum using a gracilis myocutaneous flap

An unusual case of isolated burns of the scrotum reconstructed by a unilateral gracilis myocutaneous flap is reported because of its clinical rarity.

Blood gas studies in thermal burns

In the present study we have included 25 cases with a relatively small extent of burns as compared to those described in many of the other published work. We have chosen the 3rd post-burn day as the day of reference (because most of the patients did not turn up before that day) from which day onwards adequate number of observations were available. Arterial blood gas studies revealed significant decrease in arterial partial pressure oxygen on 5th and 8th post-burn days with lowest mean value on 8th post burn day and then a gradual rise towards the normal value. Arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide fell after the burn to reach the lowest value on the 5th post burn day and then returned towards the normal value. Arterial hydrogen ion concentration also fell (i.e. arterial blood pH rise) in the post-burn course. This was significant on the 11th post burn day.

Macroradiographic study of post-burn contracture of limbs

Fifty patients with post-burn contracture involving various joints of the limbs were analysed. To study the minor skeletal changes the patients were subjected to macroradiography. In half of the patients various types of pathology were observed and their therapeutic and prognostic significance have been discussed.

Respiratory functions in thermal burns

In our present series, respiratory functions were observed in patients with a relatively small extent of burn compared to that commonly represented by the published works, and for a considerable duration of time (three weeks), commencing soon after the burn trauma. Respiratory rate increased in the post burn trauma and the peak expiratory rate was observed on the 8th post burn days and then it gradually fell but still remaining much higher than the control normal value. The minute volume and tidal volume also showed similar rise on the 8th post burn day and then gradually fell to below the mean level of 3rd post burn day before the 3rd post burn week. Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, forced expiratory volume in three seconds, forced expiratory volume in one second as a percentage of forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in three seconds, as a percentage of forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rates, did not vary much and indicated no significant respiratory abnormality.

Plasma catecholamines in thermal burns

Abstract This present study is based on the observations on plasma catecholamines in 35 cases of thermal burns of varying severity. In all the groups, there was an initial rise in plasma catecholamine level followed by a gradual decline except in patients of burn index more than 26 who died and in whom values were persistently high. Results were also compared with that of normal controls and patients with planned and unplanned surgical trauma.