Background: The epidemiological data on post-burn growth, body composition and motor development is ambiguous and scattered. The aim of this systematic review was therefore to summarize the current body of evidence on post-burn growth, body composition and motor development in children. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science up to March 2021. We considered observational studies that reported (1) metrics on weight, height, body composition, bone mineral content, bone mineral density or motor development, in (2) paediatric burn patients and (3) published in a peer-reviewed journal. Results: A total of 16 studies were included. Each of the included studies used quantitative methods, but with differing methodology: prospective cohort studies (n = 8), retrospective chart reviews (n = 3), case–control studies (n = 2), cross sectional studies (n = 2) and a retrospective cohort study (n = 1). When combined, the included studies represented 2022 paediatric burn patients, with a mean age of 7.7 (±3.2) years. The average burn size was 52.8% (±12.7) of the total body surface area. Identified outcome measures included weight (n = 12), height (n = 7), muscular strength (n = 4), bone mineral content (n = 5), bone mineral density (n = 5), body mass index (n = 3), fat mass (n = 5), lean body mass (n = 7) and fine and gross motor development (n = 1). Conclusions: Following an initial decline, patients’ growth and motor development started to recover during the first or second year post-burn. Nonetheless, burns may have a profound and prolonged effect on the paediatric burn patients’ muscular strength, bone mineral content and lean body mass. It should be noted that the vast majority of studies included only patients with burns covering ≥30% total body surface area. The evidence presented in this review may thus not be representative of the whole paediatric burn population.

This study evaluates the short- and long-term effect of burns on children’s height and weight, by comparing their pre and postburn growth trajectory. We invited children (≤17 years old), who sustained a burn requiring surgical treatment or admission at one of the Dutch burn centers in 2013 (n = 175). As well as children who sustained a severe burn, covering >10% of the total body surface area (TBSA), throughout 2009–2018 (n = 228). Data was collected from a survey on health-related topics, Youth Health Care records, and the Dutch Burn Repository R3. For all participants, height and weight were converted to Z-scores using Dutch reference values. Linear mixed modeling, nested on the individual level, was used to examine the associations between burns and children’s height and weight Z-scores. Children’s height and weight Z-scores remained within the normal range throughout the study period. During the first-year postburn, children’s height and weight Z-scores decreased by −0.21 (95% CI −0.41, −0.01) and −0.23 (95% CI −0.46, −0.04), respectively. Beyond the first-year postburn, estimates were consistent with a positive linear association between burn size and the overall effect of burns on participants’ height and weight Z-scores. This included a modest, but statistically significant, effect among participants with a burn covering ≤4.5% and >14.0% of the TBSA. Sensitivity analyses did not alter our findings. In conclusion, children were on track or even surpassed their growth potential. Our findings could therefore be considered reassuring to patients, parents, and clinicians.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic interventions on pediatric burn patients' height, weight, body composition, and muscle strength. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to March 2021. Eligible interventional studies reported metrics on the height, weight, body composition, or muscle strength of pediatric burn patients in a peer -reviewed journal. Meta -analyses were performed if >= 2 trials of clinical homogeneity reported on an outcome measure at the same time point post -burn. Results: Twenty-six interventional studies were identified, including twenty-two randomised controlled trials and four non -randomised trials. Most studies were conducted by a single institution. On average, the burn covered 45.3% ( +/- 9.9) of the total body surface area. Three categories of interventions could be distinguished: rehabilitative exercise programs, pharmacologic agents, and nutrition support. Conclusions: Each of the interventions had a positive effect on height, weight, body composition, or muscle strength. The decision to initiate an intervention should be made on a case -by -case basis following careful consideration of the benefits and risks. In future research, it is important to evaluate the heterogeneity of intervention effects and whether participation in an intervention allowed pediatric burn patients to reach the physical and functional status of healthy peers. (c) 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Our study aimed to provide a description of the early childhood development of pediatric burn patients relative to Dutch reference values, using both pre- and post-burn data from the Dutch Development Instrument and the D-score. Data from the Dutch Development Instrument were used to calculate the D-score and age-standardized D-score. Similar to a growth chart, the D-score was used to plot pediatric burn patients’ development relative to Dutch reference values for their age. Pediatric burn patients’ (n = 38) median age at the time of injury was 1.0 (1.0–2.0) years old. Burn size ranged from 1.0% to 36.0% of the total body surface area. Ninety-five percent (± 6.0%) of pediatric burn patients passed each of the age-appropriate developmental milestones at the target age. The mean age-standardized D-score was just above the Dutch average (+0.49 SD [0.18, 0.80]) and did not vary depending on sex (p = 0.06) or burn size (p = 0.41). In conclusion, among pediatric patients aged up to two-and-a-half years old, with non-full thickness burns, development was on track relative to the Dutch reference values. Our findings offer valuable first insights into the early childhood development of pediatric burn patients and may alleviate some parental concerns.