title: Burns to the head and neck: Epidemiology and predictors of surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The face is a frequent site of burn, but prevalence rates vary and reports are often limited to one healthcare setting. We examined the incidence of facial burns in the Netherlands in Emergency Departments (ED), hospitals and burn centres. Additionally, we identified which patient, injury and burn-related characteristics were predictors of facial burns, facial surgery and facial reconstruction in burn centres.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, observational study was conducted including data from the Dutch Injury Surveillance System, the National Hospital Discharge Register and burn centres in a 5-year period (2003-2007).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Facial burn incidences per 100,000 were 15.1 for ED visits, 1.3 for hospital admissions and 1.4 for burn centre admissions. A total of 2691 patients were admitted to Dutch burn centres; 47.5% (n=1277) had facial burns of which 20.5% received primary facial surgery and 5.3% received facial reconstruction in follow-up. Predictors of facial burns and facial surgery were identified. Predictors of facial reconstructive surgery were burns to the neck (ventral), fire/flame burns and number of facial surgeries in the acute phase of the burn.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One in five patients with facial burns admitted to a Dutch burn centre received primary facial surgery and 1 in 20 received facial reconstructive surgery within a follow-up of minimum 2 years.
authors.affiliation: Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cornelis J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hoogewerf
authors.forename: Margriet E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: van Baar
authors.forename: M Jenda
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hop
authors.forename: Monica C T
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bloemen
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Middelkoop
authors.forename: Marianne K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Nieuwenhuis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002053:Burn Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Burn; Epidemiology; Facial reconstruction; Facial surgery; Head; Incidence; Scald