burning

the first burns patient to arrive at the department was not a good experience. he sustained a circumferential partial thickness burn of the forearm, back of hand and part of the elbow when hot porridge was spilled on him. in cape town he would have been admitted to red cross hospital and would have received daily OT and physio. here he arrived at physio 5 days post burn already stuck in a position of comfort. he has oedema of his hand due to the circumferential burn and on passive stretching the scar tissue was tearing and bleeding. he was not considered critical enough to admit to the hospital due to lack of space. we reffered him to the burns unit at nelson mandela hospital in Mthatha, but we have no idea if he will receive the right treatment. hopefully he will