Clinical and Medicolegal Profile of Burn Injury Cases Reported to a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Hospital-Based Observational Cross-Sectional Study.

G Mahender; K. Sudhakar Suresh; Mohammad Azharuddin

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2789

Authors

Dr. G Mahender Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Government Medical College, Qutbullapur, Telangana
Dr. K. Sudhakar Suresh Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Government Medical College, Mahbubnagar, Telangana, India
Dr. Mohammad Azharuddin Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2789

Keywords:

burn injury, flame burns, total body surface area, medicolegal case, dying declaration

Abstract

Background:

Burn injuries remain a major clinical and medicolegal problem because they produce acute morbidity, disfigurement, disability, psychological distress, and preventable mortality. The pattern of burns varies with age, sex, occupation, domestic environment, source of flame, and intent of injury.

Objectives:

To assess the clinical and medicolegal profile of burn injury cases reported to a tertiary care hospital and to describe their severity, manner of injury, documentation pattern, and hospital outcome.

Methods:

This hospital-based observational cross-sectional study was conducted at Government Medical College, Mahbubnagar, Telangana, India, from January 2025 to December 2025. A total of 100 eligible burn injury cases were included. Sociodemographic variables, type and source of burn, place of occurrence, total body surface area involvement, depth of burn, inhalational injury, wound infection, surgical intervention, medicolegal details, dying declaration status, alleged dowry-related history, and final outcome were recorded. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results:

The mean age was 32.6 ± 14.8 years, and participants aged 21-30 years constituted 34.0% of the sample. Females represented 58.0% and homemakers 38.0% of cases. Flame burns accounted for 72.0%; 76.0% occurred at home, and the stove or gas flame was the source in 44.0%. Burns exceeding 40% of total body surface area were present in 44.0%, deep partial-thickness burns in 46.0%, inhalational injury in 20.0%, wound infection in 26.0%, and surgical intervention in 32.0%. Accidental, suicidal, and alleged homicidal burns comprised 76.0%, 18.0%, and 6.0%, respectively. The mortality rate was 24.0%.

Conclusion:

Burn injuries in this setting predominantly affected young adults and females, with domestic flame burns forming the major clinical pattern. Accidental burns were the leading medicolegal category, while extensive burns and complications contributed to poor outcomes.

Recommendations:

Strengthening domestic burn prevention, early referral, structured burn documentation, and medicolegal training can improve both patient care and legal clarity.

Author Biographies

Dr. G Mahender, Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Government Medical College, Qutbullapur, Telangana

is an Associate Professor in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at Government Medical College, Qutbullapur, Telangana, India. He is involved in undergraduate medical teaching, medicolegal case analysis, forensic autopsy work, and academic training. His areas of interest include clinical forensic medicine, toxicology, medicolegal documentation, and forensic pathology.

Dr. K. Sudhakar Suresh, Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Government Medical College, Mahbubnagar, Telangana, India

is an Associate Professor in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at Government Medical College, Mahbubnagar, Telangana, India. He is engaged in medical education, forensic autopsy services, medicolegal opinion work, and research in forensic medicine and toxicology. His academic interests include poisoning, injury interpretation, medicolegal reporting, and forensic pathology. He is the corresponding author. ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1903-3255

Dr. Mohammad Azharuddin, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana

is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. He is actively involved in undergraduate medical teaching, medicolegal training, autopsy-based academic learning, and forensic case discussions. His academic interests include clinical forensic medicine, medicolegal autopsy, toxicology, injury interpretation, and the application of forensic principles in medical practice. Dr. Azharuddin contributes to departmental academic activities and supports the training of medical students in the scientific and legal aspects of forensic medicine.

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