Affiliations: Department of Plastic Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital, Gent, Belgium | Lightning Data Center, St. Anthony Hospital, 4231 W. 16th Avenue, Denver, CO 80204, USA. Tel.: +1 303 629 4258; Fax: +1 303 629 4438; E-mail: [email protected]
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Dr. Gennaro Selvaggi, Department of Plastic Surgery, UZ Gent, De Pintelaan 185, B 9000 Gent, Belgium. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Electrical burn injuries are complicated because of damage to many structures including: blood vessels, muscles, nerves, tendons, bone and skin. Surgeons must confront many problems such as wound healing coverage, scarring, loss of nerve and tendons, progressive joint stiffness and amputation. The goals of burn therapists are to achieve wound healing, functional recovery, and good cosmetic results. Rehabilitation is both preventive and therapeutic and is a fundamental part of managing these patients. In this article, rehabilitation is discussed with emphasis on the following: pain management, wound coverage, positioning, splinting, and exercises (range-of-motion and ambulation). The treatment and prevention of hypertrophic scarring is evaluated. Finally, the use of engineering and assistive technologies for rehabilitation of the electrical burn injured patient is discussed. Successful management of electrical burn injured patients involves communication among the different burn specialists, such as surgeons, anesthesiologists, neurologists, nurses, and kinesitherapists; engineers from the garments/prostheses companies; psychologists; and the patient him/herself.
