• Cameron M Heilbronn, Peter F Svider, Adam J Folbe, Mahdi A Shkoukani, Michael A Carron, Jean Anderson Eloy, and Giancarlo Zuliani.
• Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
• Laryngoscope. 2015 Jul 1; 125 (7): 1573-8.

Objectives/HypothesisHead and neck burns (HNBs) engender serious sequelae including airway edema, speech/swallowing dysfunction, sensory deficits, and scarring/disfigurement, often requiring significant reconstructive surgery. We used a nationally representative resource to estimate the number of visits to emergency departments (EDs), analyze burn types and demographic patterns, and identify specific consumer products involved.MethodsThe National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was evaluated for the most recent 5-year period available. HNB ED visits were identified, and patient records were evaluated for consumer products facilitating injury, along with other ED visit and patient characteristics.ResultsFrom 2009 to 2013, 6,326 cases extrapolating to 233,431 ED visits nationally were identified. Males were predominantly impacted (64.1%). Although adults overall comprised the majority of patients (59.7%), children between 1 and 2 years of age had the highest incidence (21,544 ED visits nationally). The most common consumer products facilitating HNB included welding equipment, hot water, gasoline, bleaches, and cookware. Most injuries involved the face (55%), whereas the most common etiologies included thermal (40%), chemical (23%), and scald (22%) burns. Consumer products and injury patterns varied by patient age.ConclusionsHNBs significantly impact healthcare delivery, as over 200,000 visits reportedly presented to EDs over the 5-year period studied. Consumer products facilitating visits and associated patient demographics described may guide history, clinical examination, and identification of secondary injuries. In particular, age-specific patterns detailed may be included in consumer education and patient counseling to facilitate injury prevention, as office visits provide an opportunity to counsel patients.© 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

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