The physical, functional, and developmental outcome of pediatric burn survivors from 1 to 12 months postinjury

Fifty-one children with an average age of 27 months and who had sustained a burn injury were tested at 1, 6, and 12 months postinjury to determine the ir physical, functional, and developmental outcomes. Most parents were eith er African-American or Hispanic, lived on public assistance, and had a high school education or less. Most children had normal range of motion and wer e appropriate for their age in self-care skills. On the basis of the Home S creening Questionnaire, 48% of the children came from suspect home environm ents. Developmental delays were noted in language acquisition that persiste d over the first year postburn. Although the outcomes of these burn injurie s were good in physical and functional areas, the developmental findings ra ised concerns. The results alert clinicians to screen for potential develop mental problems during the burned child's recovery phase and to include app ropriate developmental activities and parental guidance in the treatment pl an.