Search

Phenol, a corrosive aromatic compound, is used in many polymers and plastics for industrial purposes. It has previously been used as an antiseptic agent. Phenol burns are partially thick and may cause skin hyperpigmentation. Surgical intervention, including debridement, is often unnecessary. We report the case of a resin industrial worker who sustained phenol burns in both lower extremities due to a work accident. The estimated total body surface area (TBSA) was 11 %. His wound showed signs of epithelialization 7 days after the burn injury without debridement or skin grafting, with daily water irrigation and dressing alone. The patient was discharged from the hospital on day 23 after the accident with no residual organ damage or functional impairment. A conservative approach to phenol burns would be of great benefit to patients in terms of functional prognosis.

Introduction: Burns from hot asphalt, although rare, typically occur in workers in the paving industry. Removal of asphalt, while not mandatory, improves patient comfort and allows early assessment of underlying tissue damage. Previous reports have emphasized the use of surface-active agents or butters to remove tar or asphalt from the affected area without causing further damage to the skin. Case presentation: A 69-year-old man was working as a driver of an asphalt tanker. While working on the side of the tanker, hot asphalt splashed off the roof of the tanker's hood. He sustained burns to his left face, neck, upper and lower extremities, and hands from the hot asphalt. Melted butter was soaked into gauze and applied to asphalt-covered areas of the face, neck, body, upper and lower extremities, and hands. The butter soaked into the gauze emulsified the asphalt, and the asphalt soaked into the gauze was painlessly removed. To remove the asphalt from the fingertips, melted butter was placed in plastic gloves and the hands were dipped into the gloves so that all fingers efficiently touched the melted butter. By doing so, the asphalt on the fingertips was easily emulsified by the butter in the gloves. Conclusion: The method of removing asphalt stuck to the hands by placing melted butter in gloves and applying the gloves to the hands should be considered as an option.

We report a case of crush syndrome that developed while the patient was squatting to use a Japanese-style toilet. The patient was a 61-year-old male with an obese body. He was sitting on the toilet and couldn't stand up, and after a few hours, the landlord found him and called the emergency services. On presentation, the patient was hyperkalemic and in shock, and his serum creatine kinase levels rose to a maximum of 287,600 U/L. He was diagnosed with postural crush syndrome in both lower extremities due to squatting position in a Japanese-style toilet. Subjective symptoms, physical examination, and blood tests were monitored and the patient was observed. As a result, the patient could be treated conservatively without fasciotomy. Dialysis was not necessary because the fluid infusion maintained adequate urine output and corrected the hyperkalemia. Magnetic resonance imaging of both lower extremities showed multiple high-signal areas in the muscles of the bilateral thighs and lower legs. This case suggested that if the wound is closed, the peripheral pulse is palpable, and the patient's symptoms have improved, a fasciotomy should not be performed. People who are too heavy to squat may need to be careful when using this kind of toilet.