Introduction: Chemical burns account for a small percentage of total admissions to burn units, but they can be severe injuries and require complex reconstruction resulting in long hospital stays. Cement is a common alkali agent that can cause burn injury which is often underestimated. Following prolonged contact, skin injury can develop insidiously as the symptoms may go unnoticed for hours and deep burns can occur.
Objective: To review the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes of patients presenting with cement burns to a tertiary adult burns unit, and to identify opportunities for prevention and improved early management.
Method: A retrospective observational audit was conducted of patients presenting to the Royal Adelaide Hospital Adult Burns Unit following cement burn injury from 2019 to 2024.
Results: A total of 26 patients with cement burns were identified. These occurred in male patients in a home or work setting. The mean delay in hospital presentation following injury was 3 days (0-28 days) and 85% required operative intervention which was most commonly split skin grafting.
Conclusion: Burns from cement occur in a male population undertaking paid or DIY activities. They are commonly recognised late, and patients seek treatment in a delayed fashion. These burns frequently require operatively intervention with resultant morbidity. These are often avoidable injuries with prevention, early recognition and appropriate initial management. The lack of information about the risk of cement related injury makes it an important public health issue especially in the construction industry. Awareness should be raised of the risk of burn injury and industry safety measures improved to prevent this.