Retrospective observational study reveals functional gains and links pain relief to improved upper extremity recovery in burn patients, highlighting key targets for rehabilitation.
Key Points
To describe perceived upper extremity function in acute burn injury patients, monitor functional changes during hospitalization, and analyze relationships between perceived function, daily activity performance, and pain.
Conducted a single-center, retrospective observational study of 110 adult patients with acute upper extremity burns.
Assessed perceived upper extremity function using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire and functional independence using AM-PAC Daily Activity scores alongside clinical and demographic variables.
QuickDASH scores showed improvement in 54.3% of patients, with 30.9% exceeding the minimal clinically important difference of 15.9 points, though overall change across hospitalization was not statistically significant.
AM-PAC Daily Activity scores improved significantly from initial evaluation to hospital discharge, increasing from a mean of 17.96 to 19.86 (p < .001).
Perceived disability on the QuickDASH correlated moderately with pain intensity ratings (Spearman's r = 0.56, p = 0.004).