Changes arise in burn rehabilitation

In a fiery flash, burns can change a person’s life forever.  Whether the victim is a man caught in an industrial explosion or a child who accidentally touches a hot stove, burns cause some of the most life-altering injuries.

A few years ago, burn victims were confined to hospitals for months of recovery, but now they are sent home on early release, and told to return for physical therapy

Burn victims heal at home

Medical advances, rising healthcare costs, and a shortage of trained professionals cause patients to be released before they are fully recovered.  Patients must depend on education from the hospital to continue their progress.  Outpatient rehabilitation for burn victims usually combines home exercise with trips to the hospital for occupational and physical therapy.  Care plans also should provide strict instructions for scar reduction and skin care in order to achieve minimum damage.

Teaching patients to pay attention

Burn patients must always be vigilant.  Even the smallest change in a scar’s appearance can indicate infection.  If scars become hypertrophic, meaning they begin to grow larger, redder, or appear swollen, doctors should be notified.  Hypertrophic scarring is most often related to disfigurement or debilitation.  A patient needs to be taught how to identify trouble signs and report them immediately.

Long-time recovery

All patients must begin both physical and occupational therapy immediately after repair and surgery.  Rehabilitation can last up to 18 months after doctors proclaim full recovery.  Ryan Vetter, an occupational therapist for a burn center in Allentown, PA, says that scar management is one of the biggest issues for patients because it relates to how well they can function in the future.  If a burn victim is released early and does not receive the care he or she needs, they may lose the ability to walk, talk or write.

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