Class C firework injuries in a pediatric population.
Class C fireworks are those which can be readily purchased by the public. Between July 1971 and August 1988, 23 patients were admitted to our institution with firework injuries. Fourteen patients (60.9%) sustained injuries related to Class C fireworks. All patients were males with a mean age of 9.0 +/- 3.6 years, with a total body surface area (TBSA) burn of 18 +/- 20% with 10 +/- 15% being full thickness. Thirteen of the 14 patients required hospitalization. Five patients were admitted acutely and eight patients were referred to our institution at least 3 days postinjury. All patients required operative intervention in order to obtain wound closure. Patients admitted acutely showed a decrease in length of hospital stay and patient morbidity when compared to referral patients. Our data suggest that class C firework injuries, although small in terms of TBSA burned, result in full-thickness wounds that warrant aggressive surgical management.
McCauley
R L
RL
Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Shriners Burns Institute, Galveston 77550.
Stenberg
B A
BA
Rutan
R L
RL
Robson
M C
MC
Heggers
J P
JP
Herndon
D N
DN
D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D005107:Explosions; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male