Patterns for Child Protective Service Referrals in a Pediatric Burn Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric non-accidental trauma often necessitates the involvement of protective services. However, the subjectivity and lack of standardization of referral infrastructure may result in some discrepancies between referral patterns and instances of child abuse. METHODS: An institutional retrospective chart review was conducted between 2015 and 2021, in which all cases of patients under the age of 14 who suffered a burn injury and received a child protective service (CPS) consult were reviewed. Baseline demographics and characteristics were defined. Multivariate analysis was utilized to identify predictors of CPS involvement, while the regression analysis was employed to parse associations between burn injuries and CPS involvement. RESULTS: Between July 2015 and December 2021, 340 patients (median age two years, IQR: 1-6 years) under the age of 14 who experienced a burn injury were evaluated. Forty-four (12.9%) of the patients' cases received a CPS referral, of which three (0.9%) resulted in a CPS intervention. The most common mechanism of burn within the cohort was scald (241 patients, 70.9%). The median total body surface area (TBSA) was 3.0% (IQR: 1.0%-6.0%), and 76 (22.4%) suffered a high TBSA (>75th percentile). Caucasian race (p < 0.001) and scald mechanisms (p = 0.014) were associated with higher TBSA. When considering how such injuries translated to CPS referrals, increasing age was found to be associated with a decreased likelihood of CPS involvement. Meanwhile, the Black race (p = 0.027) and increasing area deprivation index (ADI) (p = 0.038) were associated with CPS involvement. Those with CPS involvement experienced a greater length of hospital stay (p = 0.001). Black race and intensive care unit level of care were found to be positive predictors of CPS involvement. In total, three (6.82%) of the 44 cases with CPS involvement were found to be substantiated. The three children who required CPS intervention were discharged to foster care settings. CONCLUSION: Hospitalized pediatric burn injuries must be investigated due to concern of child abuse, yet external factors such as race and socioeconomic status may play a role in the involvement of CPS. Such referrals may not always be substantiated and could lead to further injurious sequelae for children and their families.

High area deprivation index is associated with increased injury severity in pediatric burn patients.

BACKGROUND: Burn injuries play a significant role in pediatric injury-related mortality and morbidity. In this study, we aim to explore the relationship between patient demographics, socioeconomic factos and burn severity in pediatric patients. METHODS: Patients under age 14 hospitalized at Westchester Medical Center for burn injury between 2015 and 2021 were reviewed. Demographic variables including mechanism of burn, total body surface area (TBSA) involvement, surgical intervention, hospital length of stay (LOS), and LOS per TBSA burn were extracted. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) was calculated to further assess socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: We included 399 patients under the age of 14 hospitalized for burn injuries at our institution between 2015 and 2021. The median age was 2 (IQR 1-6) years old, and 42.6% were female. High ADI (p = 0.018), Caucasian race (p = 0.001), and flame mechanism (p < 0.001) were independently associated with burn TBSA> 5%. LOS per TBSA was shorter in the Caucasian population (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: In burn injury patients, further research is necessary to investigate modifiable risk factors in individuals of Caucasian race or lower socioeconomic status to target effective prevention campaigns.

An open, parallel, randomized, comparative, multicenter study to evaluate the cost-effectiveness, performance, tolerance, and safety of a silver-containing soft silicone foam dressing (intervention) vs silver sulfadiazine cream.

An open, parallel, randomized, comparative, multicenter study was implemented to evaluate the cost-effectiveness, performance, tolerance, and safety of a silver-containing soft silicone foam dressing (Mepilex Ag) vs silver sulfadiazine cream (control) in the treatment of partial-thickness thermal burns. Individuals aged 5 years and older with partial-thickness thermal burns (2.5-20% BSA) were randomized into two groups and treated with the trial products for 21 days or until healed, whichever occurred first. Data were obtained and analyzed on cost (direct and indirect), healing rates, pain, comfort, ease of product use, and adverse events. A total of 101 subjects were recruited. There were no significant differences in burn area profiles within the groups. The cost of dressing-related analgesia was lower in the intervention group (P = .03) as was the cost of background analgesia (P = .07). The mean total cost of treatment was $309 vs $513 in the control (P < .001). The average cost-effectiveness per treatment regime was $381 lower in the intervention product, producing an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $1688 in favor of the soft silicone foam dressing. Mean healing rates were 71.7 vs 60.8% at final visit, and the number of dressing changes were 2.2 vs 12.4 in the treatment and control groups, respectively. Subjects reported significantly less pain at application (P = .02) and during wear (P = .048) of the Mepilex Ag dressing in the acute stages of wound healing. Clinicians reported the intervention dressing was significantly easier to use (P = .03) and flexible (P = .04). Both treatments were well tolerated; however, the total incidence of adverse events was higher in the control group. The silver-containing soft silicone foam dressing was as effective in the treatment of patients as the standard care (silver sulfadiazine). In addition, the group of patients treated with the soft silicone foam dressing demonstrated decreased pain and lower costs associated with treatment.

Firefighter burn injuries: a 10-year longitudinal study.

Our metropolitan area employs approximately 11,000 firefighters who respond to more than 435,000 fire-related incidents per year. It is inevitable that some of these firefighters will suffer burn injuries. This 10-year retrospective review describes the epidemiology of firefighters with burn injuries who were treated at our burn center. From 1992 to 2002, 987 firefighters were treated at our burn center. The total number of firefighters treated for burn injuries and the number of firefighters who were treated for burn injuries to the lower extremities occurred in a bimodal distribution. Injury prevention efforts will continue to further reduce the incidence of burn injuries in the firefighters of our community.