Burns

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2026

Identifier

10.1016/B978-0-443-12431-0.00012-7

Abstract

Despite many significant advances in burn care over the past several decades, burns continue to be a major cause of unintentional death and injury in children less than 14 years of age. Caring for children with burns is a complex endeavor that should not be undertaken without the appropriate resources. Short-term and long-term management of all burn survivors involves a true multidisciplinary approach made up of a team of many different medical specialists readily available at one site. This team includes child life specialists, nutritionists, anesthesiologists, surgeons, pediatric intensivists, psychiatrists/psychologists, specialty trained nurses, occupational and physical therapists, social workers, and child abuse specialists. Optimal burn care requires an understanding of the pathophysiology of burn injuries, inhalational injuries, and nonthermal injuries to properly guide fluid resuscitation, medication, and wound-care decisions. Timely burn excision and grafting has been shown to improve survival, decrease length of hospitalization, and reduce costs in burn patients of all ages. Specialized dressings have also helped to better facilitate care of wounds.

Journal Title

Holcomb and Ashcraft's Pediatric Surgery (Eighth Edition)

First Page

172

Last Page

186

Keywords

Burns; Dressings; Fluid resuscitation; Multidisciplinary care; Pediatrics; Wound

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