Resistance training for rehabilitation after burn injury: A systematic literature review & meta-analysis

Background/aim

Resistance training is beneficial for rehabilitation in many clinical conditions, though this has not been systematically reviewed in burns. The objective was to determine the effectiveness of resistance training on muscle strength, lean mass, function, quality of life and pain, in children and adults after burn injury.

A survey on the current status of burn rehabilitation services in China

Background

In China, there is a very long history of burn wound treatment, but the specialised burn care units were set up only from 1958. With more than 50 years of practice, great achievements have been made in burn wound care and operations in the country. However, in terms of burn rehabilitation, the development appears to be slow. In order to determine the current status of burn rehabilitation services in China, a survey was conducted to various burn centres in China.

Methods

A comprehensive survey was conducted as well as to collect data related to (1) the admissions and staffing of the burn centres; (2) availability of rehabilitation services, number and educational background of specialised personnel dedicated in burn rehabilitation therapy; and (3) the difficulties leading to the lag of the burn rehabilitation services. The survey was sent to the chiefs of 87 burn centres via e-mail and they were requested to fill out the survey questionnaire and to send it back. For those who did not respond within 1 month, a reminder was sent.

Results

There are totally 39 (44.8%) burn centres responding to our survey. These centres were geographically distributed in nearly 70% of the administrative provinces in China; hence, the results could well represent the current burn care system. Most centres have recognised the importance of rehabilitation therapy and remarkable improvements of outcome in burn patients have been achieved. There are a very huge number of burn patients that need rehabilitation therapy, but most centres face the problems of shortage of rehabilitation therapists, which apparently could lead to the difficulties in delivering a quality rehabilitation programme for patients. Although the time of rehabilitation therapy is instituted far earlier than before, it is still not widely accepted in the acute burn care stage. There are more specialists joining the burn centre and becoming members of the professional burn team. However, professional education and training in the burn specialty appear to be sparse. There is room for improvement. Problems that impede the progress of rehabilitation therapy are: lack of rehabilitation knowledge in medical staff as well as the public, the shortage of specialised personnel and relatively low educational background of this team, lack of standard guidelines for rehabilitation treatment instructions and lack of funding from the government.

Conclusion

After 20 years of clinical practice, rehabilitation concepts are well accepted and many forms of rehabilitation techniques are carried out in most burn centres that responded to the survey. Yet, the results also indicate that there is a short history of rehabilitation practice among the burn centres. There is a burning need to enhance the development of rehabilitation services so as to meet the demands of management of severely burned patients in China. Some suggestions are made to improve the current burn rehabilitation services which would include: (1) provide rehabilitation education programmes for burn surgeons, therapists, nurses, as well as patients, families and the public; (2) set up standard guidelines for clinical instruction of rehabilitation therapy; (3) build an interdisciplinary burn team; (4) more investigation and research on the physical and psychological outcomes of burn patients; and (5) implement administrative measures in terms of staffing, funding and offering insurance to burn survivors.     

系统康复治疗手烧伤的效果及成本评价

目的 了解手烧伤后系统康复治疗的效果,并从经济学角度评价康复治疗的成本.方法 将62例烧伤患者98只患手分为康复组(32例,48只患手)和对照组(30例,50只患手),康复组在烧伤后早期进行系统康复冶疗,对照组给予指导性教育.于治疗前及治疗5个月后采用Carroll 上肢功能评定标准,对2组患者上肢及手的整体功能包括从粗大到精细的抓、握、捏、夹,前臂旋前、旋后,取物、放物及写字等进行定量评定,比较系统康复治疗前后功能恢复情况.统计2组患者5个月内的相关医疗费用,进行成本效果分析. 结果 康复组:37只手的对指、对掌、握、捏功能恢复良好,患者能够独立完成进食、穿衣、如厕、整理个人卫生等日常活动;7只手的对指、对掌、握、捏功能恢复过半,掌指关节恢复较好,而指间关节相对较差,患者可完成手的抓握等粗大动作.精细动作相对较差.灵活、协调性动作较差;4只手困残余肉芽创面,未严格按处方要求坚持治疗,手各关节活动度差,功能受限.对照组:23只手进行了修复手术,14只手功能恢复较好,多数精细动作相对较差.灵活、协调性动作较差,13只手出现严重的爪形手.康复组患者总成本平均值与甲均功能增量值的比值为181±11,明显低于对照组(298±30,P<0.01). 结论 系统康复治疗对手烧伤后畸形有良好的预防和治疗作用,可促进手功能的恢复,改善手部外观.从经济学角度分析,手烧伤后早期进行规范的系统康复治疗是经济、有效的.     

深度烧伤修复重建与康复治疗相关问题探讨

With the advances in resuscitation,infection control,and metabolic management,the treatment strategies for burn patients have improved remarkably in the last half century.As a result,more patients with deep burn wound survived,and how to optimize the burn wound care aiming at recovery of the normal appearance and physiologic function of patients has been investigated and discussed widely through both the whole treat-ment strategy making and the new techniques performing.In the present discussion,early tissue reconstruction as well as early wound covering and repair are emphasized by summarizing the improved aesthetic and functional effects obtained by applying the principles of plastic surgery in early burn wound repair,the use of composite skin grafting,the grafting with split-thickness autografts on the preserved denatured dermis or on the preserved healthy fat tissue.etc.Besides these,more attention should be given to the repair and reconstruction in specialized functional parts of the body,such as head and face,neck,hand,female breast.perineum,and joint areas,after a deep burn.The role of rehabilitation during and after the burn wound treatment process is elucidated by demonstrating its potential biophysical mechanism and preventing scar deformity.Adequate treatment of deep burn wound demands a number of important measures in-eluding the timing of surgery,adoption of essential techniques,suitable types of wound covering materials,motivated rehabilita-tion,and necessary psychological therapy.The optimal recovery of damaged part of body after burn should depend on the similar-ity of rebuild tissue structure to simulate the nature of the origi-nal tissue in the cellular,histological,anatomic characteristics,which is the aim of all burn wound care and the basis of the ap-pearance and function repair or reconstruction.     

Issues and concerns of family members of burn patients: A scoping review

IntroductionThe issues and concerns that emerge in the families of burn patients have received minimal attention.ObjectiveTo map out what is known about the challenges facing the family members of burn patients.MethodsThe review followed the PRISMA Extension guidelines for scoping reviews and the review approach by Arksey and O’Malley to synthesize the available evidence. Twenty-six (26) papers from various database searches were identified and included in the review. The citation retrieval and retention methods are reported in a PRISMA statement.ResultsAlthough most of the studies included parents (n = 21), the evidence suggests that the shared concerns of family members include taking on new roles, and psychosocial and financial issues. Uniquely, parents had to endure blame, shame and guilt; partners/spouses were faced with difficulties in re-establishing an emotional connection with the patient; siblings simultaneously expressed jealousy and feelings of being outsiders; and children with a burn parent had to deal with feelings of exclusion from the care delivery process. Aside from these individuals, friends, neighbours and in-laws may also assume a caregiving role, with grandparents playing a supporting role. Family members are unprepared for their roles, as they are forced into them suddenly. Although distress may occur among family members, its determinants, severity, pattern and recovery process remain unclear.ConclusionA burn is a family injury that creates the need for family-centred care. Future studies need to explore the nature of psychological distress, family members’ recovery pathways, and how family members can prepare for their roles in the period after discharge.     

Scoping review of peer reviewed publications addressing rehabilitation for people sustaining traumatic spinal cord injury

Study Design: Scoping review

Objective: To study the design, clinical setting and outcome measures used in spinal cord injury rehabilitation publications.

Methods: A literature search on PubMed and Medline was conducted focusing on articles published between 1990–2016 and using “traumatic SCI”, “functional outcomes”, “rehabilitation”, “work” and “return to work” as outcomes. Studies were categorized based on design (intervention, including RCTs vs. non-intervention studies), settings (inpatient vs. outpatient vs. transition), and outcome measures used (impairment vs. function vs. participation/integration vs. quality of life vs. symptoms). Work-related studies were categorized independently.

Results: Five hundred forty-four articles met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 234 were interventional studies, including 23 RCTs. Studies were evenly divided among inpatient, outpatient and transition settings. Of the 234 interventional studies, 143 used functional evaluations. Sixty-one different functional instruments were used, with a predominant use of the Functional Independence Measure (61 times) and an additional use of SCI-specific measures, i.e. Spinal Cord Independence Measure and Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (13 times each). Fifty-one studies measured mobility, while only three measured hand functions. The work-related sub-analysis revealed 32 intervention studies (no RCTs), of which 15 used functional evaluations and only three focused on tetraplegia.

Conclusion: Our study revealed a paucity of intervention trials and RCTs, indicating a dearth of knowledge that would be needed to establish evidence-based practice guidelines. This is particularly true for tetraplegia. While standard measures of function were frequently used, providing valuable data, there is no consensus about what exact outcome measure to use. Using newer measurement techniques, for instance based on the application of item response theory, should be considered to enhance uniformity.     

影响烧伤患者康复因素的调查分析

目的 了解影响烧伤患者康复期综合健康状况的因素. 方法 采用一般资料问卷、艾森克人格问卷、医学应对方式问卷、社会支持评定量表、简明烧伤健康量表.对2008年2-10月在福建医科大学附属协和医院烧伤科住院的101例烧伤患者康复情况进行调查及评分.将调查数据行多元线性回归分析,找出影响烧伤患者康复的因素. 结果 本组患者躯体健康领域(57±16)分,得分指标71.1%;心理健康领域(97±19)分,得分指标80.6%;社会活动领域(53±8)分,得分指标88.4%;一般健康状况领域(45±11)分,得分指标74.5%;综合健康得分(251±44)分[标准分为(314±55)分],得分指标78.5%,处于中等偏上水平.各维度得分指标最高为社会活动领域,最低为躯体健康领域.进入综合健康同归方程(F=11.602,P<0.001)的影响因素有:月收入、烧伤面积、手术次数、性格内外向性及掩饰性、支持利用度、社会支持及屈服应对.对综合健康变异的解释量为46.6%. 结论 月收入、烧伤面积、性格内外向性及掩饰性、社会支持、屈服应对是影响烧伤患者康复水平的主要因素.     

Core outcomes for adult burn survivors: A clinical overview

Burn trauma ranges from the minor burn to the devastating injury, which can impact on all aspects of a person's life including aesthetic appearance, relationships with others and psychological, social and physical functioning. Measurement of outcome in burns patients is therefore complex and multi-faceted. The increasing numbers of major burn survivors implies that understanding health outcomes in these patients has assumed high priority. This paper sets out a conceptual framework for unifying outcome measurement, which may be useful to all members of the multidisciplinary team who are contemplating outcome assessment in their burn patients. It outlines seven core domains of assessment which are (i) skin; (ii) neuromuscular function; (iii) sensory and pain; (iv) psychological function; (v) physical role function; (vi) community participation; and (vii) perceived quality of life. Within each domain, we present a brief clinical review of the most commonly administered measurement tools that have been, or potentially could be, used to assess aspects of these core domains. Where possible, the psychometric properties and clinical utility of these tools are presented. A concise discussion of key methodological issues which should be addressed in this assessment process is then provided, together with suggestions for future research.     

烧伤康复与重回社会:中国烧伤外科的新挑战

Burn patients often have severe disfigurement, dysfunction, and psychological disorder after discharge,which may last for a long time, even for a whole life. These problems may prevent patients from returning to normal life and re-entering society. Because of demographic and socioeconomic reasons, the number of burn patients in China is huge. The rising cure rate further increases the number of patients that need rehabilitation treatment. However, the level of burn rehabilitation in China is relatively low as compared with that in the developed countries. Along with the social and economical development, it is no longer satisfied to just save the life of patient. Improving the quality of wound healing, avoiding or decreasing disfigurement, dysfunction, and psychological disorder, and finally helping patients re-enter society is the ultimate goal of burntreatment.Modern concept of rehabilitation is to restore health or normal life for patients by medical, psychosocial, educational and occupational methods. Although increasing attention has been paid to burn rehabilitation in China recently, so far it is mainly focused on the fields of improving patients' appearance and body function, whereas the importance of psychosocial, educational,occupational, and social rehabilitation has still not been realized. Some fields of burn rehabilitation have not been well established and many are not carried out by professionals. The model of multidisciplinary team in burn centers of developed countries including surgeons and nurses, as well as allied professionals such as psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians, anesthesiologists and social workers has seldom been introduced into China. In most burn centers in China, psychological support is mainly given by nurses in their spare time of nursing. Burn treatment used to be divided into the early stage of life saving and wound repair, and the late stage of rehabilitation. It has not been realized until recent years that rehabilitation measurements should be carried out through the whole process of burn treatment. Organizations of burn survivors and summer camps for burnt children proved to be helpful for the patients' self-confidence and community integration have hardly been established in China. Lack of funding is one of the main reasons for the lagging behind in burn rehabilitation in China. According the experiences of other countries, raising money from donation through burn foundation may be a useful way to support burn rehabilitation. Solving the above problems and improving the burn rehabilitation will be a new challenge to burn surgery in China.     

Rehabilitation practices for burn survivors in low and middle income countries: A literature review

Objective

To systematically review the delivery and effectiveness of rehabilitation for burn survivors in low and middle income countries (LMIC).

关注患者生存质量展望烧伤康复未来

After 50 years' development,a rather comprehensive burn care system has been built up in China,and it has played key roles in wound healing and salvaging victims of burn trauma.Since survival is no lon...     

The relationship between geographic location and outcomes following injury: A scoping review

IntroductionGlobally, injury incidence and injury-fatality rates are higher in regional and remote areas. Recovery following serious injury is complex and requires a multi-disciplinary approach to management and community re-integration to optimise outcomes. A significant knowledge gap exists in understanding the regional variations in hospital and post-discharge outcomes following serious injury. The aim of this study was to review the evidence exploring the association between the geographic location, including both location of the event and place of residence, and outcomes following injury.Materials and MethodsA scoping review was used to investigate this topic and provide insight into geographic variation in outcomes following traumatic injury. Seven electronic databases and reference lists of relevant articles were searched from inception to October 2018. Studies were included if they measured injury-related mortality, outcomes associated with hospital admission, post-injury physical or psychological function and analysed these outcomes in relation to geographic location.ResultsOf the 2,213 studies identified, 47 studies were included revealing three key groups of outcomes: mortality (n = 35), other in-hospital outcomes (n = 8); and recovery-focused outcomes (n = 12). A variety of measures were used to classify rurality across studies with inconsistent definitions of rurality/remoteness. Of the studies reporting injury-related mortality, findings suggest that there is a greater risk of fatality in rural areas overall and in the pre-hospital phase. For those patients that survived to hospital, the majority of studies included identified no difference in mortality between rural and urban patient groups. In the small number of studies that reported other in-hospital and recovery outcomes no consistent trends were identified.ConclusionRural patients had a higher overall and pre-hospital mortality following injury. However, once admitted to hospital, there was no significant difference in mortality. Inconsistencies were noted across measures of rurality measures highlighting the need for more specific and consistent international classification methods. Given the paucity of data on the impact of geography on non-mortality outcomes, there is a clear need to develop a larger evidence base on regional variation in recovery following injury to inform the optimisation of post-discharge care services.     

严重烧伤患者康复期生活质量调查及其影响因素分析

目的 调查严重烧伤患者康复期的生活质量及相关影响因素.方法 采用社会支持评定量表、生活质量综合评定问卷和回顾性调查方法,对96例(病例组)16岁以上严重烧伤患者康复期的生活质量进行评估.分析生活质量与伤者一般情况及烧伤原因、烧伤面积、烧伤深度、住院时间、医疗费用支付情况和重返岗位之间的关系,与96名健康人(对照组)进行比较.结果 病例组患者生活质量总分为(53±12)分,与对照组(63±10)分比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).性别、年龄、文化程度、烧伤原因、住院时间及医疗费用支付情况各异者的生活质量比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).有配偶者社会功能维度和物质功能维度评分比无配偶者高;社会支持总分、重返岗位、伤后时间、职业与生活质量呈正相关;深度烧伤面积与生活质量呈负相关.结论 严重烧伤患者康复期的生活质量处于低水平,社会支持力度、重返岗位情况、伤后时间、职业、深度烧伤面积等因素与生活质量相关.     

Chemical burn to the skin: A systematic review of first aid impacts on clinical outcomes

Chemical burns can cause deep injury and subsequently significant scarring to the skin. The mechanism and pathophysiology of chemical burns is distinct to thermal burns, and recommended first aid approaches are consequently different. Twenty minutes of cool running water is an effective first aid measure to improve outcomes after thermal burn. For chemical burns to the skin, the recommendations are immediate water lavage for 60 min, removal of contaminated clothing if not stuck to the skin and then covering the wound with a sterile dressing. This review assesses the peer-reviewed literature to find the evidence behind the efficacy of cutaneous chemical burn first aid on short term outcomes such as length of hospital stay, depth of burn and longer-term outcomes such as scarring; in particular, the effect of immediate or early water lavage, and the effect of the duration of water lavage. Ocular chemical burns were not included in this review. The review suggests some evidence to support that the early application of cool water irrigation may reduce length of hospital stay and the extent of scarring. Community education should emphasize that water irrigation is recommended and that the earlier this happens, the better.     

Predictors of functional outcomes in adults with traumatic spinal cord injury following inpatient rehabilitation: A systematic review

Context: Despite functional improvements during rehabilitation, variable functional outcomes were reported when patients with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) return to society. Higher functioning individuals at discharge can experience a decrease in independent mobility (i.e. Motor Functional Independence Measure (mFIM) Score) by one-year follow-up. However, functional gains after discharge have also been reported and associated with recovery.

Objective: To identify, categorize and rank predictors of mFIM score for patients with SCI following inpatient rehabilitation, both at the time of discharge and at one-year follow-up.

Methods: Data sources included CINAHL, PubMed, ERIC, Google Scholar, and Medline for literature published from February 2000 to February 2015. Quality and risk of bias of included studies was assessed using the Risk of Bias Assessment Instrument for Prognostic Factor Studies (QUIPS). Significant predictors of mFIM score were categorized using the domains of the International Classification of Function and Disability model ICF and ranked based on how frequently they were significant predictors of mFIM score.

Results: Twenty-seven predictors of mFIM score spanning the ICF domains were identified among seven studies. At discharge, variables in the Body Structure and Function domain were the most consistent predictors of mFIM score. At one-year follow-up, variables in the Activity and Participation domain were the most consistent predictors of mFIM score. Contextual factors were the least frequent predictors at both discharge and one-year follow-up.

Conclusion: This systematic-review assists clinicians setting realistic goals that maximize functional independence at the time of discharge and after reintegrating to society.