Category: Limb Restoration Rehabilitation; Measurement
Objective : The objective of this study is to correlate active range of motion (AROM) contracture measurements in patients with hand burns with differences in functional outcomes pre-burn and at discharge.
Design : This study used data from a prospective longitudinal Burn Injury Rehabilitation National Database. Patients had AROM measurements in each hand joint by goniometer and inclinometer at discharge and were classified using definitions of contracture for each individual finger.1-3 Additionally, patients were given the Short Form 36 (SF-36) to measure functional outcome of hands pre-burn and at discharge.4
Setting : The data was collected from patients admitted to a regional burn center and who consented to participate in the study.
Participants (or Animals, Specimens, Cadavers) :
This study includes patients with complete AROM measurements in at least one hand (n = 27). Inclusion criteria were hand burns with AROM measurements. Exclusion criteria include hand amputation.
Interventions : Not applicable
Main Outcome Measure(s) : Main outcome measurements included scores of the SF-36 pre-burn and at discharge from hospital.
Results : Results show total AROM measurements below normative values. On average, patients (n = 27) had 3.11 contractures per measured hand below
Conclusions : Previous studies have objectively examined severe contractures secondary to hand burns2,5,6, but few have correlated severity with functional outcome7. This study shows that the severity of contracture suffered by these patients result in functional limitation and underscores the importance of rehabilitation interventions.
Kevin Vu
– Medical Student, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TexasRadha Holavanahalli
– Professor, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TexasKaren Kowalske
– Professor, Univ, Dallas, Texas