[Analysis of burn treatment for children at Bochum University Hospital]

Abstract

Background: A retrospective epidemiological multifactorial study of pediatric burn patients admitted to the Burn Center Bochum in the period of 1992-2002 was performed.

Methods: Data from 628 patients were analyzed and included age, sex, mortality, hospital stay, percent of total body surface area (TBSA) burned, localization of burns, number of surgical procedures, source of the burn as well as social standing of the families.

Results: The majority of patients (414) were between 0 and 3 years. The median age was 2.99. The median TBSA was 11.9%. There were 387 males (62%) and 241 females (38%, ratio of 1.6:1). The overall mortality rate was 1.4% (6/629). The main causes of injury were scald burns (435; 70%), followed by flame burns (153; 24%), electric injuries (17; 3%), and hot oil (21; 3%). Surgery was performed on 365 (58%) children. The others (263; 42%) were treated without surgery.

Discussion: The number of children with a background other than German was higher; moreover, a high number of injuries was not covered by health insurance. Having identified the high-risk group among the pediatric burn patients, we suggest that prevention programs should be directed towards these families in order to reduce further risk of pediatric burns.