Abstract
Children have an imperative to explore their environment to grow and develop, which
puts them at risk for sustaining burn injury. Burn injury remains the third leading
cause of injury-related death worldwide. Plastic surgeons, as experts in the evaluation
and management of cutaneous injuries, are frequently called upon to evaluate and treat
children with burn injuries. This article focuses on the unique physiologic aspects
of children and how they impact initial evaluation and management of burn injury.
Children are not “little adults,” and they have different airway, circulatory, and
cutaneous systems. Understanding the signs of potential child abuse is important to
avoid further child harm. Finally, recognition of the criteria for referral to a pediatric
burn center is important to optimize both short- and long-term outcomes for patients
and families.
Keywords
pediatrics - burn injury - initial management
