1346 - Risk of Amputation and Associated Outcomes in Conveyance Burn Injuries, A Burn Model System Project

Thursday, February 19, 2026

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM AST

Presenting Author(s)

IA

Isabella Alexander, BS

Medical Student
UT Southwestern Medical School
Dallas, Texas, United States
EK

Eunyeop Kim, MD

Resident Physician
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas, United States

Co-Author(s)

AH

Andrew Humbert, PhD

Assistant Professor
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, United States
MM

M. Victoria P. Miles, EMT-P, MD

Assistant Professor of Burn Surgery
University Medical Center New Orleans, Louisiana State University Health Science Center New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
SM

Samuel P. Mandell, MD, MPH, FACS, FABA

Associate Professor, Chief of Burns
UTSouthwestern Dept. of Surgery
Dallas, Texas, United States
AC

Audra Clark, MD

Assistant Professor
University of Texas Southwestern
Dallas, TX, Texas, United States

Corresponding Author(s)

KK

Karen Kowalske, MD

Professor
UT Southwestern
Dallas, Texas, United States

Submitter(s)

IA

Isabella Alexander, BS

Medical Student
UT Southwestern Medical School
Dallas, Texas, United States

Objectives: Despite improved safety standards, motor vehicle collisions remain a significant source of flame burn injury. The objective of this study is to characterize differences in demographics and outcomes between patients with burn injuries related to motor vehicle collisions and flame burn patients not involved in motor vehicle collisions.

Design: Participants enrolled in the Burn Model Systems between 2015 and 2023 were categorized into two groups: burn injuries sustained during conveyance and flame-related injuries not associated with conveyance. Two-sample t-tests, Chi-squared tests, and Fisher’s exact tests were used for group comparisons. Linear mixed-effects models assessed whether conveyance-related injuries were associated with different outcomes over the first 24 months post-injury. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: Conveyance burn participants had more amputations than non-conveyance burn patients (15% vs. 4.9%, p < 0.001), with an increase in lower extremity amputations (2.5% vs. 0.7%, p = 0.027). Additionally, conveyance burns involved a greater total body surface area (TBSA) (26% vs. 23%, p < 0.034) and were associated with longer hospital stays (40 days vs. 33 days, p < 0.006). Participants who sustained injuries during conveyance demonstrated significantly lower global physical health t-scores (42.3 vs. 44.1, p = 0.037) and physical function t-scores (42.0 vs. 46.1, p = 0.002) at 6 months post-injury compared to those with non-conveyance flame burns. Additionally, conveyance burn participants reported significantly lower t-scores for their ability to participate in social roles at 6 months (48.8 vs. 50.8, p = 0.044) and 12 months post-injury (49.9 vs. 54.0, p = 0.015).

Conclusions: This study highlights the significant impact of conveyance-related burn injuries, particularly with respect to higher amputation rates and poorer early physical outcomes, compared to non-conveyance flame burns. This supports the need for targeted preventive strategies, especially those focused on vehicle maintenance and safety among younger and underrepresented populations.