A 42-year-old man living with epilepsy has undergone surgery at Shangombo District Hospital after sustaining severe burn injuries when he fell into a fire during a seizure.

The patient, who had a history of poor adherence to his prescribed epilepsy medication, sustained extensive burns to the trunk, left hand and forearm. The injuries to the hand and forearm subsequently developed dry gangrene and were complicated by infection.

Following assessment, the Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) surgical team performed a through-elbow amputation of the affected limb, together with debridement of the infected burn wounds.

The case highlights the potentially devastating consequences of uncontrolled seizures, particularly where individuals are exposed to open fires and other environmental hazards during episodes of loss of awareness.

It also underscores the importance of adherence to prescribed epilepsy treatment and taking appropriate safety precautions to reduce the risk of seizure-related injuries.

Through such specialised outreach programmes, ZFDS continues to enhance the Ministry of Health goal in bringing essential medical and surgical care closer to communities, helping ensure that patients receive timely and specialised treatment closer to home.