A Wide Spreading Method in Commits Suicide

Abstract

In the recent 5 years, there is an emerging local trend of burning charcoal as a form of suicide attempt. Patients who committed suicide usually suffered from carbon monoxide inhalation lung injury and severe deep contact thermal burns if direct fall down on the burning charcoal. Patients are usually admitted to the burn unit and received burn wound management. Early wound closure and better functional results are the goals. We reported a female patient who committing suicide by burning charcoal. Her anterior and lateral knee joint suffered from the 5% body surface third degree burn injury. Very early tangential excision was performed and free anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap (28x21 cm) was transferred immediately after wound debridement to cover the joint capsule and quadriceps tendon. The patient recovered both emotionally and physically and was discharged 18 days after the admission.