Role of Early Range of Motion Exercises in Reduction of Scar Formation and Prevention of Contracture in Sub-acute Stage of Burn Patients

ABSTRACT

To determine the role of early passive range of motion exercises in the reduction in scar formation and prevention of Contracture in sub-acute Burn Patients. Study Design: Randomized Control Trail [RCT]. Burn Centre Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad, from January to December, 2010. Thirty patients were selected from the burn center at Pakistan Institute of Medical sciences [PIMS] Islamabad, age ranging from 12-60 years, and were randomly placed into two groups, 15 patients in each group. The anti-contracture positioning program was applied on group A with early passive range of motion [PROM] exercises of the involved areas and in group B only anticontracture positioning program was applied. The Vancouver Scar Scale [VSS] was used as an assessment tool and 4 variables were assessed including vascularity, height/thickness, pliability, and pigmentation. Data was analyzed on SPSS version-20 and independent t-test was applied at 90% level of significance to calculate the p-value for group A and B. The results show that the anti-contracture positioning with early passive range of motion [PROM] exercises reduced scar formation and prevent contractures more significantly in group A [P-value =0.002] with average VSS score 6, as compare to the anticontracture positioning alone in group B [P-value=0.435] with VSS score 10, as assessed at the completion of physical therapy management program in all the 30 patients of subacute stage of burn. It was concluded that the early passive range of motion exercises with anti-contractures positing can reduce the amount of scar formation, prevent contractures and increase the quality of physical therapy management in sub-acute stage of burn patients