Comparison of the Results of Early Excision and Grafting between Children and Adults; A Prospective Comparative Study

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the outcomes of early excision and grafting between pediatric and adult patients with deep burns of less than 40% total body surface area burns (TBSA).Methods: This is a prospective comparative study. Overall, 106 patients admitted to Ghotbodin Burn Center in Shiraz, Iran from September 2012 to September 2013, were included in the study. All patients had less than 40% TBSA burn and had excision and grafting under 14 days from their injury. Patients were divided into two age groups of younger than 14 (n=49) and older than 14 (14-65) years old (n=57). During a 6-month follow-up period, the two groups were compared regarding mean percentage of graft take, total scar score, duration of hospital stay and itching score.Results: During follow-up, the two groups did not show a significant difference in graft take, total scar score and itching score (p=0.461, p=0.363 and p=0.637, respectively). Clinically, the pediatric group showed less hospital stay (12.25±9.1 vs. 16±12.9), however this was not statistically significant (p=0.091). Conclusion: Adults and elderly patients (14–65 years old) compared to pediatric patients (less than 14 years old) with less than 40% TBSA burns, can expect similar results regarding scar score, graft take, itch score and hospital stay, after excision and grafting performed less than two weeks from their initial injury.