Burns of the developing breast

Burns to the pediatric population are a prevalent problem that can have long-term if not fatal consequences. Although burns to the trunk have equally negative cosmetic effects from disfigurement for both boys and girls, burns to the trunk of the developing female, particularly those involving the breast, have an additional psychologic component due to the potential loss of femininity. This article aims to comprehensively review the proper management and treatment options for these patients based on mechanism of burn injury, both from an initial management and a staged reconstruction point of view.