Analysis of Factors Influencing Trauma Healing in Children with Second-Degree Burns: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: The complexity of studying secondary burn wound healing in children arises from the varying ability of skin tissue regeneration across different ages. Despite advancements, there are still gaps in our understanding. Objectives: This study aimed to explore factors influencing wound healing in children with second-degree burns to guide clinical treatment and nursing practices. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of children with second-degree burns treated in our burn surgery department from January 2020 to December 2022. Based on the events per variable (EPV) rule, 220 children were included. They were categorized based on the quality of wound healing 14 days post-admission (good or poor), evaluated by the healing rate and scar formation. Children's clinical data were extracted from medical records for analysis. Binary logistic regression identified factors associated with poor healing outcomes in second-degree burns. Results: Among 220 patients with secondary burns, 166 (75.46%) experienced good wound healing, while 54 (24.54%) had poor outcomes. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test indicated a good model fit (χ2 = 9.739, P = 0.28). Significant variables included burn area (odds ratio [OR] = 1.217, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.109 - 1.335, P < 0.05), number of drug changes (OR = 1.902, 95%CI = 1.392 - 2.599, P < 0.05), white blood cell count (OR = 1.076, 95%CI = 1.008 - 1.150, P < 0.05), neutrophil count (OR = 1.080, 95%CI = 1.018 - 1.146, P < 0.05), and neutrophil ratio (OR = 1.040, 95%CI = 1.002 - 1.081, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Effective treatment and nursing of children with second-degree burns should prioritize managing large burn areas and high levels of inflammatory markers. Additionally, minimizing drug changes during the nursing process can enhance wound healing in children.