This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of pediatric cases brought to our country due to burns caused by the Syrian civil war and to contribute to the literature with the obtained findings. This study was conducted as a single-center, retrospective analysis covering burn cases under the age of 18 who were hospitalized in the Hatay Education and Research Hospital Burn Unit between 01.01. 2011-31.12.2024. Age, gender, cause of burn, degree and percentage of burns, burn areas, presence of additional interventions, length of stay, and mortality status of the patients were evaluated. The median age of 984 pediatric burn patients in our study was 7 years, and 79.2% were male. The most common cause of burns was flame (72.4%), followed by scalding (25.4%) and electrical/contact (2.2%) burns. The median total burn surface area was 23%, the most frequently affected areas were the anterior trunk, head and neck, and upper extremities. Second-degree burns were detected in 85.8% of the patients, and third-degree burns were detected in 14.2%. The median length of stay was 11 days, and a positive correlation was found between TBSA and age and length of stay (p<0.001). Flame and electrical burns were associated with higher total body surface area in older children. There was no significant difference between gender and burn type. Flame burns required longer hospital stays and more frequent debridement; grafting was applied least frequently in scalding, and escharotomy was applied most frequently in electrical burns. Flame and electrical burns were associated with higher mortality (p<0.05). Our study suggests that pediatric burns occurring in situations such as war and conflict may directly or indirectly affect children's clinics. Pediatric burns occurring during this period affect a larger surface area, cause deeper tissue damage, and therefore have higher surgical intervention and mortality rates compared to peacetime burns.
Mehmet Burak Dal (Mon,) studied this question.