Pattern of Burns Injuries and Treatment Outcomes in Paediatric Patients at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto State

Burns injuries in children constitute a significant surgical emergency in sub-Saharan Africa, and the pattern of causative agents, injury severity, and outcomes in North West Nigeria reflects specific household and environmental risk factors. This study examines the pattern of burns injuries and their treatment outcomes in paediatric patients managed at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto State. A retrospective cross-sectional design is applied to records of all paediatric burns admissions between 2019 and 2023. Variables include patient age, sex, burn aetiology (scald, flame, chemical, electrical), percentage total body surface area affected, depth, Lund and Browder chart assessment, initial fluid resuscitation, surgical management, and discharge outcomes including mortality and contracture formation. SPSS is used for analysis. Evidence from North West Nigerian burns units suggests that scalds from cooking accidents account for over 60 percent of paediatric burns, predominantly affecting children under five years in domestic settings. The Parkland Formula and Lund and Browder Classification guide clinical management assessment. Findings will inform the unit's quality improvement agenda and provide data for public health advocacy on domestic burns prevention. Keywords: burns injuries, paediatric surgery, Sokoto State, North West Nigeria, total body surface area.