Splinting for Burns: Difference between revisions

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There are 3 types of splints usually used with burn patients namely static, static progressive, and dynamic splints <ref>Dewey WS, Richard RL, Parry IS. Positioning, Splinting, and Contracture Management. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2011 May 1;22(2):229-47.</ref>.
There are 3 types of splints usually used with burn patients namely static, static progressive, and dynamic splints <ref>Dewey WS, Richard RL, Parry IS. Positioning, Splinting, and Contracture Management. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2011 May 1;22(2):229-47.</ref>.
# '''Static Splints''' are used for skin graft protection after surgery or anticontracture positioning. These splints can easily be modified depending on the patient's status.
# '''Static Splints''' are used for skin graft protection after surgery or anticontracture positioning. These splints can easily be modified depending on the patient's status.
# '''Static progressive''' or '''dynamic splints''' are used when there is no sufficient ROM obtained with static positioning and exercise. These splints may be implemented for correction and contractures.
# '''Static progressive or postural splints''' are used after the graft phase when there is no sufficient ROM obtained with static positioning and exercise. These splints may be implemented for correction and contractures.
#  
# '''Dynamic''' or '''follow-up splints''' are used to increase function by providing a slow force to stretch a contracture or provide resistive force for exercise.


== Clinical Presentation  ==
== Clinical Presentation  ==

Revision as of 15:48, 2 December 2020

Original Editor - Kirenga Bamurange Liliane Top Contributors - Kirenga Bamurange Liliane, Naomi O'Reilly, Simisola Ajeyalemi, Kim Jackson, Vidya Acharya and Wanda van Niekerk

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Description[edit | edit source]

A burn is an injury to the skin or other organic tissue primarily caused by heat or due to radiation, radioactivity, electricity, friction, or contact with chemicals [1]. Most burns are due to heat from hot liquids (called scalding), solids, or fire .
A splint is a rigid support made from metal, plaster, or plastic. It's used to protect, support, or immobilize an injured or inflamed part of the body.

Positioning and Splinting[edit | edit source]

It is imperative that a burn patient be positioned and splinted as soon as the injury occurs for the best functional outcomes of his rehabilitation. Therefore, positioning and splinting should:

  • Minimize edema formation
  • Prevent tissue destruction
  • Maintain soft tissue in an elongated state to facilitate recovery
  • Adopt the anticontracture position

Physical therapy and splinting should immediately after the injury as they play an important role in different body parts function, especially in hand function [2].

Areas at high risk for contracture[edit | edit source]

  1. Neck
  2. Axilla
  3. Hand

Indication for splint use[edit | edit source]

Splints are generally used for:

  • Prevention of contractures
  • Protection of a joint or tendon
  • Immobilization following a skin graft
  • Decreased Range of Motion (ROM)
  • Maintenance of ROM obtained while exercising or during a surgical release
  • Poor patient compliance

For patients with burns injury, splints are used to hold parts of the body so that:

  • The skin graft can be immobilized and protected while healing
  • The skin can be prevented from shrinkage and contractures while healing
  • The new grafts and flaps are protected
  • The deformity is prevented and/or corrected
  • The ROM is maintained and/or increased
  • The weak muscles can counteract the effect of gravity [3]

Different types of splints[edit | edit source]

There are 3 types of splints usually used with burn patients namely static, static progressive, and dynamic splints [4].

  1. Static Splints are used for skin graft protection after surgery or anticontracture positioning. These splints can easily be modified depending on the patient's status.
  2. Static progressive or postural splints are used after the graft phase when there is no sufficient ROM obtained with static positioning and exercise. These splints may be implemented for correction and contractures.
  3. Dynamic or follow-up splints are used to increase function by providing a slow force to stretch a contracture or provide resistive force for exercise.

Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]

Splints may be used to immobilize injuries such as sprains or fractures, or soft tissue injuries. They may also be used as definitive management to treat these injuries. In some cases, Educating patients regarding splint care and return precautions aids in a successful outcome [5].

Resources[edit | edit source]

add appropriate resources here, including text links or content demonstrating the intervention or technique

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Burns. Available from: https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/other_injury/burns/en/ (Accessed 29 November 2020)
  2. ↑ Rrecaj S, Hysenaj H, Martinaj M, Murtezani A, Ibrahimi-Kacuri D, Haxhiu B, Buja Z. OUTCOME OF PHYSICAL THERAPY AND SPLINTING IN HAND BURNS INJURY. OUR LAST FOUR YEARS’ EXPERIENCE. Materio socio-media. 2015 Dec; 27(6): 380-382.
  3. ↑ Splints for burns. Available from: https://www.healthpartners.com/hospitals/regions/specialties/burn-center/splints/#:~:text=Splints%20for%20burns,-Overview&text=Splints%20or%20orthoses%20are%20used,with%20a%20low%20temperature%20thermoplastic (Accessed 27 November 2020)
  4. ↑ Dewey WS, Richard RL, Parry IS. Positioning, Splinting, and Contracture Management. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2011 May 1;22(2):229-47.
  5. ↑ Althoff AD, Reeves RA. Splinting. StatPearls [Internet]. 2020 May 24.
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