Some aspects of post-treatment adjustment in severely burned children

Abstract

The post-treatment adjustment of 25 children who had sustained a burn of more than 30 per cent body surface area is discussed. They were visited at home between 2 and 11 years after the accident to ascertain whether there were any long term effects, whether they were attending school with benefit or were successfully employed. Good adjustment was found in 12 per cent of the sample, with 60 per cent reasonably adjusted and 28 per cent poorly adjusted. Aggression, withdrawal and depression were found to be the most common emotional after-effects of the trauma in addition to the physical disfigurement. The findings of this study have resulted in the adoption of a new attitude towards the aftercare of the severely burned child and suggestions for future follow-up are made.