[Local treatment of thermal injuries in children. Results of a multicenter study]

The study described in this paper helped to establish the present position in locally delimited treatment of children for thermic injuries. 25 hospitals or other medical institutions were involved in the inquiry programme, including 16 departments of paediatric surgery and nine departments of general surgery. Studies were conducted also into 2 outpatient departments. The programme was centrally evaluated on the basis of 15 questions distributed, in the first place, in a questionnaire. Locally delimited treatment of cases of different severities was on the list together with an analysis of open and closed wound treatment and indications for surgery to cope with injuries of greater severity. Answers were sought to questions of burn blister treatment, and reference was made to surgical removal of necrotic foci as well as to advantages implied in two-session approach to post-necrectomy cases. A critical analysis is made of fractionated necrectomy. The important of synthetic skin substitutes is underlined. Locally delimited surgical therapy is associated with aspects relating to suture fixation, scarification, and change of dressing. Benefits and drawbacks are analysed. An evaluation was made of methods for after-treatment of cured burns and of celoid treatment.