Patterns and management outcome of paediatrics burn in a general surgical department: experience from a secondary referral hospital

Abstract

Burns are considered the fourth most common type of traumatic injury worldwide with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to disclose the incidence, etiological factors, treatment, and outcome of pediatric burns in Sudan. This is a retrospective hospital-based study, conducted during 2016- 2019. Patients who presented with burn injuries, managed in the hospital were included in the study. Flowchart sheets were used to collect the data. Then it was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21 statistical software (IBM Corporation, Chicago, IL). The total number of patients who fulfill our criteria is 85 with a median age of 4 years (7 months -15 years). Sixty-five percent of them were under 5 years with male predominance (55 %). Most patients' burns occurred at home. The median percentage of burn is 18 % (2 -90 %) which is caused by scalding burn among 55.3% followed by the flame burn in 41.2% of patients. Regarding fluid management, 60 % received fluid. Open dressing for burn wounds was done for 75 % and close dressing among 15 % of patients. More than 80 % of the patients in this study were treated and discharged in a good condition while the mortality was 5.9%. This study showed the significant burden of pediatric burns management on general surgery units in a referral hospital. So, equipping the hospital and founding these specialties will decrease this load and will improve the outcome.

Clinical Assesment of Pediatric Burns: A Retrospective Study

“…Notably, Olatain et al reported an 11% mortality rate, while Yiğit et al documented a 1.45% rate in their case series. Additionally, a retrospective study conducted in Sudan, focusing on hospital-based data, revealed burns as the fourth most common traumatic injury type, with a mortality rate of 5.9% (Bakhiet, 2023). In South Africa, a retrospective cohort study found an overall mortality rate of 4.4% for pediatric burns, with a higher mortality rate among transferred patients compared to directly admitted cases (Mashavave, 2020).…”