Exhaust burns in children

BackgroundContact thermal injuries appear the second most frequent cause for burns in children seen at our unit. Burns caused by hot exhaust systems represent an important subgroup, as these injuries carry the potential for considerable morbidity.MethodsA retrospective review of the Burns Unit database was conducted from January 2003 to January 2008. All patients referred to our unit with burns caused by contact with an exhaust system were included. The morbidity associated with each injury was determined by recording the need for surgical intervention, days taken to heal and the number of hospital visits required.ResultsA total of 97 patients were identified, of which 71 were male (M:F; 2.7:1). Age ranged from 5 months to 15 years. The mechanisms involved were contacts with the exhaust systems of motorbikes, including mini-bikes and Pee-Wee bikes (77), cars (14), lawnmowers (5) and quad-bikes (1). The injuries most commonly occurred during the summer holiday months (n = 36, 37%). The Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) ranged from 0.5% to 8%, although injuries measuring 1% or less accounted for 60% of the total. More than two-thirds of the injuries were located on the lower extremity, with the calf being the most common site. Surgical intervention was required in 33% of the cases. The average time taken for complete healing was 20 days with an average of 3.5 visits made for each injury.ConclusionsThe rate of surgical intervention and days to healing clearly demonstrate the morbidity associated with these injuries. In addition the time, effort and money spent for their management appear considerable. A concerted effort must be made to raise public awareness regarding these injuries with a focus on educating people on the hazards of the equipment and the use of appropriate protective gear.