[Current challenges in the treatment of paediatric burn patients: a retrospective experience at a Viennese burn unit]

Burn trauma in paediatric patients continues to be highly relevant socio-economically since the number of inpatients treated per year has not declined over the past few decades. The treatment of paediatric burn victims places high demands on medical staff and the use of wound dressings and surgical techniques. This study aimed to give a current overview of the inpatient management and treatment methods for paediatric burn patients at a specialised burn centre in Vienna.

All children and adolescents who were treated at the children's ward of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Medical University of Vienna between 2012 and 2016 due to a recent burn trauma were retrospectively analysed.

115patients were treated due to a recent burn trauma. Median age was 2 years (0-18). Scalds accounted for 74 % of traumas. Median affected body surface area was 5 % (1-40 %). Conservative treatment of superficial partial-thickness wounds (62 %) was performed with MepilexAg in 98 % of cases and required a median healing time of 11 days (4-34). 38 % (n = 44) of patients had deep partial-thickness or full-thickness burns . The use of Suprathel after tangential excision of the burn eschar in more superficial deep partial-thickness burns led to satisfying healing times.

The use of modern dressings in the conservative treatment of superficial partial-thickness burns allows for atraumatic dressing changes and fast recoveries. The use of Suprathel in more superficial deep partial-thickness burns is a reliable and safe alternative to autologous skin grafting. Scar prophylaxis and regular follow-up examinations are crucial to prevent secondary morbidity due to scar contractures. It is important to raise awareness among parents in order to decrease the number of paediatric burn patients in the future.