Splinting for Burns
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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
Areas at high risk for contracture[edit | edit source]
- Neck
- Axilla
- Hand
Indication for splint[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
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 [2].
Resources[edit | edit source]
add appropriate resources here, including text links or content demonstrating the intervention or technique
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Burns. Available from: https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/other_injury/burns/en/ (Accessed 29 November 2020)
- ↑ Althoff AD, Reeves RA. Splinting. StatPearls [Internet]. 2020 May 24.
