Contracture severity at hospital discharge in children: A burn model system database study

Model System:

Burn

Reference Type:

Journal article

Accession No.:

J86496

Journal:

Journal of Burn Care And Research (formerly Journal of Burn Care & Rehabilitation)

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

2021 , 42, 3, 425-433

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study investigated range of motion (ROM) outcomes in pediatric burn survivors and analyzed these outcomes in relation to burn size, injury severity, length of stay (LOS), and age. Data were obtained from the Burn Model System for patients younger than the age of 18 with at least one joint contracture at hospital discharge. Sixteen areas of impaired movement from the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, and ankle joints were examined. Analysis of variance was used to assess the association between contracture severity, burn size, and LOS. Age groupings were evaluated for developmental patterns. Data from 225 patients yielded 1,597 contractures (758 in the hand) with a mean of 7.1 contractures per patient. Mean contracture severity ranged from 17 percent (elbow extension) to 41 percent (ankle plantarflexion) loss of movement. Statistically significant associations were found between active ROM loss and burn size, LOS, and age groupings. The data illustrate quantitative assessment of burn contractures in pediatric patients at discharge in a multicenter database. Size of injury correlated with ROM loss for many joint motions, reflecting the anticipated morbidity of contracture for pediatric burn survivors. These results serve as a potential reference for ROM outcomes in the pediatric burn population, which could serve as a comparison for local practices, quality improvement measures, and future research.

Author(s):