Outcomes of Early Use of an End of Range Axilla Orthotic in Children Following Burn Injury

Scar outcomes for conservatively managed children post burn injury: A retrospective study

Hypertrophic scarring is a significant complication post burn injury, especially for delayed healing after 3 weeks. Burn injuries healing prior to 3 weeks also have the potential to develop hypertrophic scarring, even when prescribed prophylactic conservative scar interventions. A retrospective chart audit reviewed 326 burn patients treated at a paediatric tertiary hospital from 2014 to 2019 who sustained a partial thickness burn, healed >14 days and did not receive skin grafting. A scar was deemed hypertrophic if >1 mm in height. Early hypertrophic scar prevalence was defined as 3-6 months post burn, while persistent hypertrophic scarring was defined as 12-18 months post burn. Median days to wound closure was 18. The prevalence of early and persistent hypertrophic scarring was 56.1% and 16.3%, respectively. Seventeen (5.2%) children underwent medical interventions for scar modulation. Early signs of hypertrophic scarring were seen in just over half the patients presenting to burn therapy and despite scar intervention, persistent hypertrophic scarring was seen in 16.3%. At both time points, just over half of the children presenting healed between 14 and 21 days. Therefore, children healing prior to 21 days have potential to develop hypertrophic scarring.

Reliability, Validity, and Predictive Validity of Cutaneous Functional Units Predicted to Scar Following Palmar Burn Injury in Young Children

Identification of children at risk of palmar burn scar is important for early initiation of scar management. This study determined the interrater reliability of face-to-face and photographic assessments of 29 palmar cutaneous functional units (CFUs) predicted to scar following palmar burn. The validity of photographic compared to face-to-face assessment, and the predictive validity of both assessment types to identify scarring at 3 to 6 months following burn, was also established. Thirty-nine children (40 hands) post burn injury were assessed face-to-face in the clinical setting, following healing of their palmar burn, by three burn therapists. Photographs of the children's hands at initial assessment were assessed by the same therapists a minimum of 6 months later. To determine which CFUs scarred, children were reassessed face-to-face in the clinical setting 3 to 6 months following their burn. For analysis, 29 CFUs were merged into eight separate groups to determine the number of CFUs predicted to scar per CFU group for face-to-face and photographic assessments. The range of agreement for individual CFUs within CFU groups was also calculated for both assessment types. Excellent interrater reliability was established for face-to-face assessment in all eight CFU groups (ICC2,1 0.83-0.96). Photographic assessment demonstrated good to excellent interrater reliability in six CFU groups (ICC2,1 0.69-0.90) and validity in seven CFU groups (ICC2,1 0.66-0.87). Good to excellent predictive validity was established for both assessment types in seven CFU groups (face-to-face ICC2,1 0.60-0.95, photographic ICC2,1 0.69-0.89). Experienced therapists can reliably assess CFUs face-to-face or via photographs and predict future scar development.

Update on the practice of splinting during acute burn admission from the ACT study

INTRODUCTION

Burn scar contracture (BSC) is a common pathological outcome following burn injuries, leading to limitations in range of motion (ROM) of affected joints and impairment in function. Despite a paucity of research addressing its efficacy, static splinting of affected joints is a common preventative practice. A survey of therapists performed 25 years ago showed a widely divergent practice of splinting during the acute burn injury. We undertook this study to determine the current practice of splinting during the index admission for burn injuries.

METHODS

This is a review of a subset of patients enrolled in the Burn Patient Acuity Demographics, Scar Contractures and Rehabilitation Treatment Related to Patient Outcome Study (ACT) database. ACT was an observational multicenter study conducted from 2010-2013. The most commonly splinted joints (elbow, wrist, knee and ankle) and their 7 motions were included. Variables included patients' demographics, burn variables, rehabilitation treatment and hospital course details. Univariate and multivariate analysis of factors related to splinting was performed. P< 0.05 was significant.

RESULTS

Thirty percent of the study population (75 patients) underwent splinting during their hospitalization. Splinting was associated with larger burns and increased injury severity on the patient level and increased involvement with burns requiring grafting in the associated cutaneous functional unit (CFU) on the joint level. The requirement for skin grafting in both analyses remained independently related to splinting, with requirement for grafting in the associated CFU increasing the odds of splinting 6 times (OR =6.0, 95% CI=3.8-9.3, p<0.001). On average splinting was initiated about a third into the hospital length of stay (LOS, 35 ± 21% of LOS) and splints were worn for 50% (50 ± 26%) of the LOS. Joints were splinted for an average 15.1 ± 4.8 hours a day. The wrist was most frequently splinted joint being splinted with one third of wrists splinted ( 30.7%) while the knee was the least frequently splinted joint with 8.2% splinted. However, when splinted, the knee was splinted the most hours per day (17.6 ± 4.8 hours) and the ankle the least (14.4 ± 4.6 hours). Almost one third had splinting continued to discharge (20, 27%).

CONCLUSIONS

The current practice of splinting, especially the initiation, hours of wear and duration of splinting following acute burn injury remains variable. Splinting is independently related to grafting, grafting in the joint CFU, larger CFU involvement and is more likely to occur around the time of surgery. A future study looking at splinting application and its outcomes is warranted.

Outcomes of Early and Intensive Use of a Palm and Digit Extension Orthosis in Young Children After Burn Injury

Burns to the palmar aspect of the hand are prevalent in young children. The development of scar tissue across the flexor surface of the hand combined with the years of growth ahead may result in considerable complications. This study was undertaken to describe outcomes of early and intensive use of a palm and digit extension orthosis with the elbow immobilized at 90° flexion following a palmar hand burn. A retrospective review of 107 children (mean age 18 months [SD 10]) treated at a statewide Pediatric Burns Unit from 2012 to 2016 was performed. Three children (3%) developed contracture during the 24-month study follow-up period. The other 104 children (97%) had full ROM at 24 months or at either the point of discharge or loss to follow-up. Early signs of contracture, defined as loss of full movement or significant banding, developed in 26 children (24%) in the first 9 months after burn. With intensive physiotherapy, 23 children regained full movement by 12 months after burn. Children who did not achieve complete wound healing at 1 month after burn and children with hypertrophic scarring at 2 months after burn were significantly more represented among cases of early signs of contracture (P = .013). When undertaken with regular clinical review, early and intensive use of a palm and digit extension orthosis can maintain full extension of the palm and digits in children after palmar burn.