title: Scar outcome of children with partial thickness burns: A 3 and 6 month follow up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a paucity of research investigating the scar outcome of children with partial thickness burns. The aim of this study was to assess the scar outcome of children with partial thickness burns who received a silver dressing acutely.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children aged 0-15 years with an acute partial thickness burn, ≤10% TBSA were included. Children were originally recruited for an RCT investigating three dressings for partial thickness burns. Children were assessed at 3 and 6 months after re-epithelialization. 3D photographs were taken of the burn site, POSAS was completed and skin thickness was measured using ultrasound imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-three children returned for 3 and 6 month follow-ups or returned a photo. Days to re-epithelialization was a significant predictor of skin/scar quality at 3 and 6 months (p<0.01). Patient-rated color and observer-rated vascularity and pigmentation POSAS scores were comparable at 3 months (color vs. vascularity 0.88, p<0.001; color vs. pigmentation 0.64, p<0.001), but patients scored higher than the observer at 6 months (color vs. vascularity 0.57, p<0.05; color vs. pigmentation 0.15, p=0.60). Burn depth was significantly correlated with skin thickness (r=0.51, p<0.01). Hypopigmentation of the burn site was present in 25.8% of children who re-epithelialized in ≤ 2 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has provided information on outcomes for children with partial thickness burns and highlighted a need for further education of this population.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: e.geekee@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Gee Kee
authors.affiliation: Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Australia; Pegg Leditschke Children's Burns Centre, Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kimble
authors.affiliation: Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Australia; Tissue Repair and Regeneration Program, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cuttle
authors.affiliation: Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Stockton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001458:Bandages; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010781:Photography; D011091:Polyesters / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D062326:Re-Epithelialization / Q000502:physiology*; D012828:Silicones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C117408:Acticoat; D011091:Polyesters; D011095:Polyethylenes; D012828:Silicones; D018030:Silver Compounds; C114834:mepitel
keywords: Child; Partial thickness burn; Scar outcome; Skin thickness