A small contact burn injury requiring upper limb amputation

An elderly, demented, man was referred with a fairly small contact burn to the medial side of his left arm and forearm. The thermal injury had caused ischaemia of the forearm and hand. Thrombosis of the underlying brachial artery was suspected, and the only surgical option was amputation. This is an unusual but devastating complication of a contact burn. Those particularly at risk of this injury include the demented, elderly, epileptics and neuropathics, who may lie helpless or unaware of prolonged contact with warm objects.