Inpatient rehabilitation following burn injury: patient demographics and functional outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To identify demographic characteristics of burn patients referred for inpatient rehabilitation, the benefits of rehabilitation in this population, and factors that influence functional outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Free-standing rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=129) admitted for inpatient rehabilitation after a burn injury. INTERVENTION: Comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic data and the FIM instrument on admission and discharge for all patients. RESULTS: Linear measures of functional status derived by Rasch analysis of the FIM showed significant improvements from admission to discharge for all patients. There was no correlation between total body surface area (TBSA), premorbid psychiatric alcohol or drug abuse history, and change between admission and discharge FIM score. There was a significant correlation between TBSA burn and age and between TBSA and length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Burn patients referred for inpatient rehabilitation are either older or have large TBSA burns. All patients made significant functional improvements and consequently inpatient rehabilitation can be considered an important component of care after a burn injury.