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BackgroundBurn injuries are a major cause of medico legal deaths in Pakistan. The present study was conducted with the aim to assess the mortality rate related to different types of burns injuries.FindingsThis was an observational prospective cross sectional study conducted in Burns Ward of Civil Hospital, Karachi during a period of two years from January 1st 2010 to December 31st, 2011. Data was collected over a questionnaire containing demographic variables as well as date of burn, date of the death (if patient expired), total body surface area involved, cause and manner of burn. The data was statistically analyzed by SPSS v. 16. A total of 1979 patients were admitted to the department during the study period. Out of them, 715 died, hence a mortality rate of 36.12%. Out of the 715 patients, 380 (53.1%) were males and 335 (46.9%) were females. Mortality was highest in age-group 16–30 years (n = 395, 55.2%). Majority of the deaths were accidental (n = 685, 95.8%). Fire burns was found to be the most common cause of death (n = 639, 89.3%). 35% (n = 252) of the patients who died had more than 60% of total body surface area involved in burns.ConclusionMeasures must be taken to inform the general population of the possible causes of these injuries, and to enable the people to be prepared to face any such circumstances.

Primary Objective: To assess the relationship between disability, length of stay (LOS) and anticholinergic burden (ACB) with people following acquired brain or spinal cord injury.Research Design: A retrospective case note review assessed total rehabilitation unit admission. Conclusions: There was a statistically significant correlation of ACB and neuro-disability measures and LOS amongst this patient cohort. Methods4

Nitrous oxide (NO) is an increasingly used recreational drug amongst the young. Six patients presented to our unit with varying neurological presentations ranging from acute AIDP to a pure cord syndrome, mostly with a mixture of peripheral and central elements (myeloneuropathy). Some patients did not admit to taking it initially. Therefore a high index of clinical suspicion is needed. Most of the patients responded well to aggressive parenteral Vitamin B12 administration. This case series highlights the need to keep NO abuse in mind in younger patients who present with an acute cord syndrome or AIDP. Homocysteine and methylmalonic acid levels can be useful in suspected cases, even when abuse is denied by the patient.