[Tap-water scald burns]. / Quemaduras por agua caliente sanitaria.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of patients with tap-water scalds admitted to our hospital and review current knowledge on their prevention. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of admissions for tap-water scalds. The medical records codified as water-tap scalds (MBDS; CIE-9-CM, 940.0-949.5, E.924.0, E.924.2) of patients admitted to our hospital for more than 24 hours from January 1 to December 31, 2003 were reviewed. The following variables were studied: age, sex, mechanism, extent and degree of burn, localization, length of hospital stay, treatment, requirement for skin grafting, mortality, and sequelae. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were treated in our hospital. Sixty-two percent were boys. Age ranged from 3 days to 9 years. Six patients (20.6 %) were aged less than 1 year, 19 (63 %) were aged between 1 and 3 years and four (13.8 %) were aged from 3 to 9 years. Body surface area was 10 % or less in 25 patients and more than 20 % in four. Five patients required skin autografting. In two patients, the scald was produced in the neonatal area of our hospital. The mean length of hospital stay was 12 days, ranging from 1 to 38 days. None of the patients died. One patient suffered severe sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the frequency and severity of the burns reported in this study, pediatricians should increase their efforts in educating families about this type of burn. In addition, effective legislation should be implemented in Spain.

Quemaduras por agua caliente sanitaria / Tap-water scald burns

Objetivo: Describir las características de los pacientes que han precisado hospitalización por quemaduras producidas por agua sanitaria y revisar el estado actual de su prevención. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo por revisión de historias clínicas codificadas como quemaduras por agua sanitaria (CMBD; CIE-9-CM, 940.0-949.5, E924.0, E.924.2) ingresados durante más de 24 h en nuestro hospital desde el 1 de enero de 1998 hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2003. Se estudiaron las siguientes variables: edad, sexo, mecanismo, extensión y grado de profundidad de la quemadura, duración del ingreso, casos que requirieron injerto cutáneo, mortalidad y secuelas. Resultados: Se ha evaluado a 29 pacientes. El 62 por ciento eran varones. El rango de edad fue desde los 3 días de vida a los 9 años de edad. Seis pacientes eran menores de un año (20,6 por ciento), 19 de 1 a 3 años (63 por ciento), y 4 mayores de 3 años (13,8 por ciento). En cuanto a la superficie corporal quemada, en 25 casos fue igual o inferior a 10 por ciento, y en cuatro fue superior al 20 por ciento. Cinco pacientes requirieron la realización de autoinjerto cutáneo. Dos quemaduras fueron intrahospitalarias, que correspondían a dos recién nacidos. La estancia media fue de 12 días, con un rango de 1 a 38 días. Se observaron secuelas graves en un paciente. No hubo mortalidad. Conclusiones: La incidencia y la gravedad de los pacientes descritos justifican incrementar las medidas preventivas por parte del pediatra, y consideramos que deberían existir medidas de tipo legislativo en España (AU)

[Meshed graft fixation with synthetic glue (Nobecutan) in pediatrics]. / Fijación de injertos mallados con adhesivo sintético (Nobecutan) en pediatría.

Burns in children carry many age-related problems. Maintenance of immobility and cleanness of absorbent dressings are very difficult, especially in infancy and large wounds. These problems are very important when meshed skin grafts are used. Graft survival is disturbed by patient movements and septic colonization, especially in the early postoperative period. Over a two years period we have been applying Nobecutan as meshed skin graft fixation procedure, antiseptic and protecting wound coat. The use of Nobecutan is a time-saving technique. No sutures nor staples are employed, which is very important when working with burned children. No local adverse effects, nor prolongation of wound healing had been observed.