title: Reconstructive surgery after burns: a 10-year follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is minimal insight into the prevalence of reconstructive surgery after burns. The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence, predictors, indications, techniques and medical costs of reconstructive surgery after burns.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the three Dutch burn centres. Patients with acute burns, admitted from January 1998 until December 2001, were included. Data on patient and injury characteristics and reconstructive surgery details were collected in a 10-year follow-up period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 13.0% (n=229/1768) of the patients with burns, reconstructive surgery was performed during the 10-year follow-up period. Mean number of reconstructive procedure per patient were 3.6 (range 1-25). Frequently reconstructed locations were hands and head/neck. The most important indication was scar contracture and the most applied technique was release plus random flaps/skin grafting. Mean medical costs of reconstructive surgery per patient over 10-years were €8342.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With this study we elucidated the reconstructive needs of patients after burns. The data presented can be used as reference in future studies that aim to improve scar quality of burns and decrease the need for reconstructive surgery.
authors.affiliation: Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, MOVE Research Institute, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hop
authors.affiliation: Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Langenberg
authors.affiliation: Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Martini Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hiddingh
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, MOVE Research Institute, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Stekelenburg
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, MOVE Research Institute, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M B A
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: van der Wal
authors.affiliation: Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, MOVE Research Institute, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hoogewerf
authors.affiliation: Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M L J
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: van Koppen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polinder
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, MOVE Research Institute, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, The Netherlands; Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P P M
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: van Zuijlen
authors.affiliation: Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: baarm@maasstadziekenhuis.nl.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: van Baar
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, MOVE Research Institute, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Association of Dutch Burn Centres, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Middelkoop
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D009426:Netherlands; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Burn; Costs; Epidemiology; Reconstructive surgery