Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-m8s7h Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-18T07:46:27.470Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Management of hot tar burn using vitamin E ointment containing petroleum and polyoxyethylene sorbitan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2015

Karen Ng
Affiliation:
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Dawn Dalen*
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy, Kelowna General Hospital and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC
David Rhine
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Kelowna General Hospital, Kelowna, BC
*
Department of Pharmacy, Kelowna General Hospital, 2269 Pandosy St., Kelowna, BC V1Y 1T2

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Tar burns are primarily an occupational hazard associated with the road paving or roofing industry. Management of tar burns requires safe and effective removal of solidified tar from the skin using a dissolution or emulsifying agent to prevent inflicting further injury and pain. We report a case of a patient with tar burns on 10% of his body surface area involving the lower arms bilaterally and splashes to the facial area. The tar was efficiently removed with Webber Vitamin E Ointment without toxicity, irritation, or other complications.

Type
Case Report • Rapport de cas
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2013

References

REFERENCES

1.Inancsi, W, Guidotti, TL. Occupation-related burns: five year experience of an urban burn center. J Occup Med 1987;29:730–3.Google Scholar
2.Schiller, WR. Tar burns in the southwest. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1983;157:38–9.Google Scholar
3.Puzinauskas, VP, Corbett, LW. Differences between petroleum asphalt, coal-tar pitch, and road tar. Research Report 78–1. College Park (MD): The Asphalt Institute; 1978.Google Scholar
4.Stratta, RJ, Saffle, JR, Kravitz, M, et al. Management of tar and asphalt injuries. Am J Surg 1983;146:766–9, doi:10.1016/0002-9610(83)90337-9.Google Scholar
5.Renz, BM, Sherman, R. Hot tar burns: twenty-seven hospitalized cases. J Burn Care Rehabil 1994;15:341–5, doi:10.1097/00004630-199407000-00009.Google Scholar
6.Lunge, G. Coal-tar and ammonia. 5th ed. New York: D. Van Nostrand; 1916.Google Scholar
7.Ashbell, TS, Crawford, HH, Adamson, JE, et al. Tar and grease removal from injured parts. Plast Reconstr Surg 1967; 40:330–1, doi:10.1097/00006534-196710000-00003.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Demling, RH, Buerstatte, WR, Perea, A. Management of hot tar burns. J Trauma 1980;20:242, doi:10.1097/00005373-198003000-00009.Google Scholar
9.Bose, B, Tredget, T. Treatment of hot tar burns. Can Med Assoc J 1982;127:21–2.Google Scholar
10.Tiernan, E, Harris, A. Butter in the initial treatment of hot tar burns. Burns 1993;10:437–8, doi:10.1016/0305-4179(93)90070-O.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Shea, PC Jr, Fannon, P. Mayonnaise and hot tar burns. J Med Assoc Ga 1981;70:659–60.Google ScholarPubMed
12.Turegun, M, Ozturk, S, Selmanpakoglu, N. Sunflower oil in the treatment of hot tar burns. Burns 1997;23:442–5, doi:10.1016/S0305-4179(97)89766-5.Google Scholar
13.Terzioglu, A, Sarifakioglu, N, Yavuz, N, et al. The medical use of a nonmedical product: melted tar. J Burn Care Rehabil 2004;25:506–9, doi:10.1097/01.BCR.0000144522.00591.66.Google Scholar
14.Juma, A. Bitumen burns and the use of baby oil. Burns 1994;20:363–4, doi:10.1016/0305-4179(94)90069-8.Google Scholar
15.Keller, KL, Fenske, NA. Use of vitamins A, C, and E and related compounds in dermatology: a review. J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;39:611–25, doi:10.1016/S0190-9622(98)70011-8.Google Scholar
16.Kaye, ET. Topical antibacterial agents. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2000;14:321–39, doi:10.1016/S0891-5520(05)70250-6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed