CHANGING PATTERNS IN PEDIATRIC BURNS IN CROATIA - DATA FROM THE NATIONAL REFERRAL CENTER DURING THE 2010-2019 PERIOD.

The aim of this study was to assess changes during the past decade in the overall number, as well as patterns of burn injuries according to age at the time of injury, total body surface area (TBSA) affected, and burn injury mechanisms. We also wanted to evaluate the average length of stay to TBSA ratio and seasonal variations according to burn injury mechanism. We performed a review of 402 patients hospitalized at our institution during a 10-year period and divided them into subgroups as follows: scalds, contact burns, flame and electrical burns, and massive thermal injuries (>40% TBSA regardless of burn injury mechanism). The peak incidence of burn injuries was recorded between the first and second year of life, and scalds predominated as the burn injury mechanism. During the observed period, the average TBSA declined and scalds became even more dominant as the burn injury mechanism. Seasonal variations could be confirmed for contact burns which occurred most commonly during autumn and winter, and for flame and electrical burns that occurred most often during summer. Given the fact that we recorded a decline in the number of patients with burn injuries, we believe that it is of highest importance for the management of burn injury pathology to be concentrated in a center with greatest experience in the treatment of burn injuries in children. Based on the characteristics of patients with burn injuries, small children and preadolescents and young adolescents should be targets of prevention campaigns.