Comparative Analysis of Burn Injuries in Toddler and Preschool Children: Implications for Triage and Outcome...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Burn Care
• Trauma Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Burn injuries present unique challenges in pediatric populations.
• Understanding demographic and clinical differences between toddler and preschool burn patients is crucial for effective treatment.
• Validating triage tools like the American Burn Association (ABA) Burn Triage Decision Matrix is essential for optimizing resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare demographic, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of burn injuries in toddler versus preschool children.
• To validate the ABA Burn Triage Decision Matrix in the Turkish pediatric population.
• To assess the utility of the ABA matrix for triage accuracy in pediatric burn patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 684 pediatric burn patients (494 toddlers, 190 preschoolers) over 5 years.
• Evaluation of variables including gender, burn etiology, burn area, depth, treatment, complications, length of stay, and mortality.
• Assessment of the ABA Burn Triage Decision Matrix performance in both age groups.

Main Results:

• Scalding was the primary cause of burns in both groups, with significant differences in anterior trunk involvement (p=0.027).
• Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) and mortality rates were comparable between toddlers and preschoolers (p=0.286 and p=0.385, respectively).
• The ABA Burn Triage Decision Matrix showed consistent triage performance, with a noted discrepancy in the moderate risk category for toddlers.

Conclusions:

• Burn injuries in toddlers and preschoolers exhibit distinct characteristics and outcomes.
• The ABA Burn Triage Decision Matrix demonstrates utility in improving triage accuracy and resource allocation for pediatric burn patients.
• Validation of the ABA matrix is particularly relevant for disaster preparedness in pediatric populations.