Rehabilitation of burn patients begins from the day of injury until functionality is regained which can last for several years. A comprehensive rehabilitation programme requires multidisciplinary efforts to improve strength and mobility and reduce post-traumatic effects. The dedication of the burn team encourages patients to participate and engage in their rehabilitation, which make a great difference to their quality of life in the long-term.
Rehabilitation of burn involves physical, psychological, and social care. Burns cause devastating and deforming contractures that leads to severe disability if left untreated. Rehabilitation reduces the impact of the injury by improving the mobility and strength of limbs, improves psychological wellbeing and improves social integration of the patient.
Rehabilitation of burn is segregated into 4 phases:
First phase - Evaluation and resuscitation ensues on days 1-3. It involves meticulous evaluation for injuries and agility of the limbs, and precise fluid resuscitation.
Second phase – It includes surgeries to correct the deformity caused by the burn injury. This phase occurs after a few days of injury.
Third phase – It involves wound closure through by replacing temporary wound covers with permanent solutions. Often, the burnt area is reconstructed through skin and muscle grafts.
Fourth phase - Rehabilitation, reconstruction, and reintegration of the patient after several weeks of post-operative care.
Rehabilitation of burn is difficult and time consuming, but by creating long-term treatment plan and outlining short-term goals, this process becomes satisfactory. The treatment team devises realistic therapeutic goals, and suitable care plan for both the patient and their family.
Goals and daily schedules are posted for easy review by the patient and family; thus reinforcing the goals objectives, and encouraging them to achieve it. Goals range from reducing ROM loss in critically ill patient to establishing a work-hardening program in recovered patients.
Twice-a-day therapy session is required for reducing edema, ROM loss, and preventing limb contractures with positioning and splinting.
Several weeks of therapy is required for recovered patients to nurture them back in occupation and social environments.
Before the patient is discharged from the hospital, treatment team ensures that patient can stand, feed, toilet, and ambulate. Further, regular meetings are scheduled to discuss progress and modify treatment plan for faster recovery.
As wounds and illness heal, the job of occupational and physical therapists becomes challenging as patients become aware of the accident and may become fearful of the therapist and uncomfortable with the rehabilitation process.
Rehabilitation of burn patients therapy involves the following aspects:
For long-term success of rehabilitation of burn patients, the therapist should design short-term achievable goals to encourage patients on the road to recovery. An early program of passive ROM helps to retain normal ROM during this period. Thus, the therapist needs to have an unhurried approach for each patient, engage in gentle conversation, and, perhaps administer pain relief medication (opiates/benzodiazepines) to help control pain.
Our team of burn specialists including physical and occupational therapists provide personalized rehabilitation of burn patients care plan based on their injury’s severity, loss of functionality of limbs, and personal, professional, and social goals.
People who have suffered from thermal, chemical, and electrical burns with second-degree or third-degree damage require to be enrolled in rehabilitation of burn patients program for improving their physical, mental, and social well-being.
Burn recovery starts as soon the patients is admitted to the hospital. Depending on the severity of the burn and wound, therapy begins when the patient is recovering in bed. We begin our assessment when the patient is sedated and intubated to design and implement therapies to help them maintain their physical flexibility.
Further, some patients can recover in a few months while other take several years of rigorous training.
The goal of the rehabilitation of burn patients therapy is to help maintain the mobility of the patient’s body for perform daily activities, including work, social and personal responsibilities.
Early on, several patients require therapy to prevent contractures (tightening of muscles and joints) occurring from healing of scarred tissues and burnt wounds. We use stretching exercise on the affected area to prevent stiffness of muscles, tendons, and bones, for mobility to continue.
To help patients lead an improved and independent life after the healing of wounds, physical and occupational therapy is important. During the program, the patient is nursed back to holistic health – physical, mental, and spiritual. The program is devised into short-term goals and patients are encouraged to achieve them daily for achieving desired outcomes. Further, support groups are available to nurture their mental and spiritual health, as they learn to recover from the trauma.
At Custis Hospital our team of doctors and therapists work in tandem to provide holistic care to the burn patients. For instance, we have Dieticians who recommend wholesome nutrition for faster healing of wounds. Our psychologists help patients fight their trauma and heal mentally and spiritually. While our support groups in the intensive care unit (ICU) remain connected with the patients after they have recovered and returned home.
We provide effective surgical and non-surgical treatments for all parts of the body. At Cutis Hospital, our cosmetic and plastic surgery team is committed to giving patients safe and high-quality care.
