Pediatric scalp, face and neck burns in a referral pediatric burn centre in Türkiye

Burns affecting the head, face, and neck region present challenging anatomical, functional, and aesthetic consequences. However, data comparing these injuries with other burn areas are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients with isolated scalp, face, and neck burns, those with scalp, face, and neck burns involving additional body regions, and those without scalp, face, and neck involvement. Following Ethics Committee approval, pediatric patients (0-18 years) admitted to tertiary burn centers between 1August 2019 and July 31, 2025, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups: isolated head, face, and neck burns (group 1) (n = 88), head, face, and neck burns with burns in other areas (group 2) (n = 569), and burns without head, face, and neck involvement (group 3) (n = 822). Demographic characteristics, burn etiology, total body surface area, inhalation injury, need for intubation, length of hospital stay, and mortality were compared. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. A total of 1,479 patients were included in this study. Patients in Group 2 had larger burn areas. Respiratory tract injury (8.8%) and the need for intubation (10.0%) were more frequent in group 2 than in the other groups (P < 0.001). The overall mortality rate was 2.0%. The highest mortality was observed in patients in Group 2 (3.2%). No mortality was observed in group 1. The results of our study showed that head, face, and neck burns alone do not increase morbidity and mortality in children; however, when combined with burns in other areas, there is a likely increase in morbidity and mortality due to increased total body surface area and inhalation injury.