OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of different kind of methods in the management of hydrofluoric acid burn in early postburn stage in rabbits.

METHODSThirty-three rabbits were inflicted with burn by 55% of hydrofluoric acid covering 5% TBSA, and were randomly divided into 3 groups, i.e. A (n = 13, with 5 ml.kg(-1).h(-1)of isotonic saline intravenous infusion), B (n = 10, with isotonic saline and 50 g/L of calcium gluconate infusion in dose of 20 mg/kg at different time points), and C (n = 10, with the same treatment as B group, and with excision of burn wound at 0.5 post burn hour) groups. The serum levels of fluorine and calcium were determined before and after various postburn hours, and the mortality rate was statistically analyzed.

RESULTS(1) The serum level of fluorine in A (8.37 +/- 2.62 mg/L) and B (8.59 +/- 2.25 mg/L) groups reached the peak value at 1 postburn hour (PBH), which was 107 times higher than that before the burn injury. The serum level of fluorine in B group was significantly lower than that in A group at 24 PBH (P < 0.05), while that in C group declined to (6.20 +/- 0.23) mg/L, which was obviously lower than that in A and B groups (P < 0.01). (2) The serum calcium level declined after burns, reaching the lowest level at 8 to 12 PBH. and began to increase at 24 PBH. Compared with normal calcium value, the serum level of calcium in A, B and C groups declined to as much as 46%, 32% and 26%, respectively. Statistically significant difference was found between C and B groups (P < 0.01). (3) The mortality rate in the three groups within 72 PBH were 30.8%, 12.5% and 0.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONEarly removal of burn area and calcium supplementation could help quickly decrease blood fluorine, reverse the fatal hypocalcemia and the multiple systemic toxic injury in rabbits inflicted with hydrofluoric acid injury.