A cost-effectiveness analysis of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment of hand burn / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment on hand burn, and to make a cost-effectiveness analysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-two patients with ninety-eight affected hands were divided into rehabilitation group (32 cases, 48 hands) and control group (30 cases, 50 hands). Patients in rehabilitation group received comprehensive rehabilitation treatment at early stage after burn; patients in control group were given instructions for function training at the same time. The functions of the hands to be restored including grasp, hold, pinch, nip, forearm pronation and supination, fetching, laying, and writing abilities of patients in both groups were quantitatively evaluated with Carroll's upper extremity function test before treatment and 5 months after. Direct medical costs of patients in both groups within 5 months were respectively added up to make a cost-effectiveness analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In rehabilitation group, function of digital opposition, palmar opposition, holding, and pinching of 37 hands recovered well, with which patients could pick food, put on clothes, go to toilet, and self-care etc. independently. Function of digital opposition, palmar opposition, holding, pinching half recovered in 7 hands, accompanied with well recovered of metacarpophalangeal function, but recovery of function of interphalangeal joint was less satisfactory. Although patients could grasp and hold, they were still poor in fine and harmonized activities. Joint ranges of motion of 4 hands were poor with limited function, and this was resulted from not strictly following treatment for remaining granulation wound. In control group, 23 hands received reconstructive surgery, 14 of them recovered with good function, but were poor in most of fine and harmonized activities. Severe claw hands were found in 13 hands. The ratio between total mean cost value and total function increment value in rehabilitation group (181 +/- 11) was obviously lower than that in control group (298 +/- 30, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Comprehensive rehabilitation treatment at early stage after hand burn has a good effect on prevention and treatment of hand deformity, promoting recovery of hand function and improving hand appearance. It is also less costly.</p>

Application with a series of orthotic splints for recovery of hand function after burn / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of static and dynamic splints on recovery of hand functions in burn patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two burn patients with 52 injured hands were treated with orthotic splints (single or combined application) during different therapeutic stages. Carroll's upper limb functional test was used to evaluate the function of upper limbs and hands from rough to fine movements, including grasp, pinch, nip, forearm pronation and supination, fetching, etc. The hand functions were compared before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 7 hands with grade IV function, 15 hands with grade III, 23 hands with grade II, and 7 hands with grade I before treatment, while 9 hands achieved grade IV function, 28 hands grade V, 9 hands grade VI, and 6 hands grade III after treatment for three months. Twenty-eight patients with 46 hands recovered well enough to handle daily chores, including digital opposition, palmar opposition, grasp, pinch, etc.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The manual splints offer good effects on preventing and treatment scar contracture of hand after burn, and they can promote the recovery of hand functions.</p>