Treatment of second to third-degree burns in a 2-day-old infant: A case report

Burn injuries in newborns are particularly complex cases. Since these patients are rare, there is little experience and no existing standardized treatment.

This report examines a case of accidental second to third-degree burning of the heel and toes on the left foot in a new-born girl. The burns covered an estimated 1% of the total body surface area (TBSA). After an initial debridement and 32 days of non-surgical wound therapy with Adaptic® fat gauze dressings, we were able to achieve an aesthetically and functionally satisfactory result including the complete preservation of all toes. In order to eliminate a scar contracture, we carried out a Z-plasty one year later.

Modern wound treatment following the principle of less frequent dressing changes allows the burn wound to have better re-epithelialization. New findings in stem cell research indicate that the high proportion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in postnatal blood is also involved in the regeneration and healing of burns. To our knowledge, this is the first case report dealing with initial non-surgical combustion therapy in a newborn.

There is evidence that newborns have a much higher potential for wound healing than adults. Proper position in long-term immobilization of toes is important to prevent scar contracture and deformity.