Burn Hand or Finger Goniometric Measurements: Sum of the Isolated Parts and the Composite Whole.

Accurate assessment of hand function following a burn is important for patient impairment determination. Goniometric measurement of hand or finger range of motion (ROM) is typically done measuring individual finger joints with the adjacent joint in extension (isolated) or measuring the joints in a fist position (composite). The purpose of this study was to compare if the total flexion motion of the summed angles of the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, and distal interphalangeal joints in burned hands were equal when performed in an isolated vs a composite manner. Passive flexion ROM angles were collected prospectively and measured at the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, and distal interphalangeal with the adjacent joints extended to measure isolated angles and with the adjacent joints fully flexed for composite angles. Thumb joints were excluded. ROM for isolated and composite positions of eight fingers was compared individually and as an aggregate. Finger measurements from 145 adult patients were compared. The study population was predominately male (69%) with a mean age of 41 ± 16.6 years. Mean total burn size was 14.2 ± 13.2%. A total of 739 fingers contributed 2217 joint ROM comparisons. Aggregate analysis of isolated ROM was 235.5° ± 52.1° compared with composite ROM of 226.8° ± 53.2° (P < .0001). Individual fingers showed significant differences between the two measurement methods as well (P ≤ .0040). The methods used to measure hand or finger ROM profoundly influence how hand impairment is reported. Measurement of isolated joint angles results in greater ROM values compared with composite angles, which are often more relevant for functional hand positions. Therefore, composite angles are recommended.

Profile of Patients Without Burn Scar Contracture Development.

Burn scar contractures (BSCs) are a frequently recognized problem for survivors of burn injury. In the burn literature, many reports focus on the frequency and factors associated with the BSC development. To the contrary, few burn rehabilitation publications report on patients who are able to successfully avoid developing BSC. From a prospective, multicenter study, data were extracted and reviewed on a group of 56 adult burn survivors who were discharged from their acute hospitalization without any measured BSCs. Forty-three variables with a recognized or presumed association with the development of BSCs were analyzed and are reported. Highlighted features of the noncontracted group included being an adult male with an educated background and few associated physical, medical, or social problems. The group had relatively small burn sizes that nonetheless required hospitalization. Despite the overall TBSA, the majority of the burn areas required skin grafting, although this area also represented a small area. The patient group had a longer than expected hospital stay. Rehabilitation was provided to patients on 80% of their hospital days. In addition, patients received sufficient rehabilitation treatment based on the number of cutaneous functional units involved in the burn injury. Patients were judged to have a high pain tolerance and compliant with rehabilitation. The results of this study document the clinical circumstances that patients with burn injury can be discharged from their acute hospitalization with the development of BSC. This study challenges the rehabilitation personnel to expand the upper limit of burn severity that can result in similar positive outcomes.