Chemical burn injury due to hydrofluoric acid: a case of successful management without hexafluorine

Abstract

We report an employee working in glass manufacturing who suffered a burn, induced by hydrofluoric acid (HF) as a result of an explosion of an acid container. The patient was admitted to our burn center with second and third degree burn injuries over 5% of his body. The burn improved completely and dramatically without application of hexafluorine because he presented to our burn center expeditiously. The primary goal of all treatment modalities is to prevent deep tissue injury, decomposing fluoride ion chemically. In the treatment of such burns, the wound area should be washed with plenty of water, preferably with bottled water. In addition, the compounds of calcium and magnesium applied topically and hexafluorine have a role in the treatment, where available. Training programs, including first-aid teams, should be prepared for this in order to reduce or prevent the mortality and morbidity associated with HF burns.