A prospective study of time to healing and hypertrophic scarring in paediatric burns: every day counts. Issue 1 (19th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chipp, Elizabeth; Charles, Lisa; Thomas, Clare; Whiting, Kate; Moiemen, Naiem; Wilson, Yvonne
• Is Part Of: Burns and trauma. Volume 5:Issue 1(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-01-19
• Subjects: Scar -- Hypertrophic -- Burn -- Time to healing -- Paediatric -- Skin type; Burns and scalds -- Periodicals; Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; 617.11
• DOI: 10.1186/s41038-016-0068-2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2321-3876

Abstract

Abstract: Background: It is commonly accepted that burns taking longer than 3 weeks to heal have a much higher rate of hypertrophic scarring than those which heal more quickly. However, some of our patients develop hypertrophic scars despite healing within this 3-week period. Methods: We performed a prospective study of 383 paediatric burns treated non-operatively at a regional burns centre over a 2-year period from May 2011 to April 2013. Scar assessment was performed by a senior burns therapist using the Vancouver Scar Scale. Results: Overall rates of hypertrophic scarring were 17.2%. Time to healing was the strongest predictor of developing hypertrophic scarring, and the earliest hypertrophic scar developed in a patient who was healed after 8 days. The risk of hypertrophic scarring was multiplied by 1.138 for every additional day taken for the burn wound to heal. There was a trend towards higher rates of hypertrophic scarring in non-white skin types but this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: The risk of hypertrophic scarring increases with every day and, therefore, every effort should be made to get the wound healed as quickly as possible, even within the traditional 3-week period usually allowed for healing. We believe that the traditional dogma of aiming for healing within 3 weeks is overly simplistic and should be abandoned: in paediatric burns, every day counts. Trial registration: Not applicable.