Burns to the genitals and the perineum in children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the management of perineal and genital burns in children.


METHODS
Twenty-seven children (aged 6 months to 12 years) suffering from genital or perineal burns between 1981 and 1995 were reviewed. Most burns occurred in boys (70%), were due to scalds (85%) and caused superficial second-degree lesions (63%). The initial treatment consisted of topical antimicrobials or grafting with allografts.


RESULTS
Spontaneous healing by conservative therapy, not early excision therapy, occurred in 96% of the patients. Contractures occurred in two patients and were treated with multiple Z-plasties and circumcision.


CONCLUSIONS
The management of perineal and genital burns in children should be conservative.
Michielsen
D
D
Academic Surgical Centre Stuivenberg, Antwerp, Belgium.
Van Hee
R
R
Neetens
C
C
Lafaire
C
C
Peeters
R
R
D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix; D005260:Female; D005835:Genitalia; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010502:Perineum; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014945:Wound Healing