Patient or Prisoner?: Acute Burn Injuries in Prisoners—The Birmingham Burns Centre Experience.

This article examines the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of burn injuries among prisoners in the United Kingdom, using data from the International Burn Injury Database (iBID) between 2010 and 2021. Among 68 predominantly male inmates with a median age of 28.5 years, scald burns were most common, with assault identified as the leading cause (63.2%), followed by accidents and deliberate self-harm. Surgical intervention was required in about a quarter of cases, typically associated with larger burn areas and longer hospital stays, and all surgically treated patients attended outpatient follow-up, unlike many conservatively managed patients. The study highlights challenges in timely healthcare access and follow-up adherence within prisons, noting that barriers such as limited escort availability contribute to missed appointments. It suggests that enhanced burn prevention education, safeguarding policies, and the adoption of telemedicine could improve care delivery and outcomes for this vulnerable population.