Rehabilitation of Burn Injuries in the Lower Limbs: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction Burns are among the main external causes of death in Brazil, and their occurrence in the lower limbs is less common. However, significant burns in this region are a challenge for reconstruction, especially in later stages, due to the difficulty in recreating the region's particular anatomy and sustaining limb functionality.

Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of burn victims with sequelae treated at a rehabilitation hospital from 2001 to 2005.

Results We evaluated 44 patients, 61.3% of whom were male and aged between 21 and 40 (mean age: 26) years. Most (98%) were of working age (< 60 years). Thermal causal agents were predominant, and 65% of the patients underwent different surgeries and rehabilitation programs.

Conclusion The analysis revealed severe deformities, including articular issues and amputations, in patients with long-standing burns, especially male individuals, of working age, and from the Midwestern, Northern, and Northeastern regions of Brazil. The required treatments involved different complex surgical procedures and physical therapy for rehabilitation depending on the causal agent and the extent of the injury, always prioritizing limb functionality and the patient's reintegration into society.

Keywords

burns - lower extremity - plastic surgery procedures - rehabilitation

Authors' Contributions

KTB: data analysis and/or interpretation final manuscript approval, data collection, conceptualization, study conception and design, resource management, project management, investigation, methodology, performance of surgeries and/or experiments, writing – original draft preparation, writing – review and editing, supervision, validation, and visualization; ECT: data analysis and/or interpretation, final manuscript approval, conceptualization, study conception and design, resource management, writing: original draft preparation, review, and editing; GCSC and GCC-Jr: data analysis and/or interpretation, final manuscript approval, conceptualization, study conception and design, resource management, project management, methodology, writing – original draft preparation, writing – review and editing, validation, and visualization; HBS: data analysis and/or interpretation, statistical analysis, final manuscript approval, conceptualization, study conception and design, resource management, writing – original draft preparation, writing – review, and editing, software, validation, and visualization; PHBL : data analysis and/or interpretation, statistical analysis, final manuscript approval, data collection, conceptualization, study conception and design, resource management, writing – original draft preparation, writing – review and editing, software, and visualization; and RCGS: data analysis and/or interpretation, final approval of manuscript, conceptualization, study conception and design, resource management, project management, writing – original draft preparation, writing – review and editing, and visualization.

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 25. Juli 2023

Angenommen: 29. September 2024

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
10. Februar 2025

• Referências

• 1 Jacobs C, Vacek J, Many B, Bouchard M, Abdullah F. An Analysis of Factors Associated with Burn Injury Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. J Surg Res 2021; 257: 442-448
• 2 Özkal Ö, Seyyah M, Topuz S, Konan A. Lower limb functional status and its determinants in moderate/major burns 3–6 months following injury: A two-center observational study. Burns [Internet] 2020; [citado 2 nov 2023] PubMed
• 3 Chang JB, Kung TA, Levi B, Irwin T, Kadakia A, Cederna PS. Surgical management of burn flexion and extension contractures of the toes. J Burn Care Res 2014; 35 (01) 93-101
• 4 Zoni AC, Domínguez-Berjón MF, Esteban-Vasallo MD, Velázquez–Buendía LM, Blaya-Nováková V, Regidor E. Socioeconomic inequalities in injuries treated in primary care in Madrid, Spain. J Public Health 2016; ; [citado 29 jun 2023]: fdw005 PubMed
• 5 Ngu F, Patel B, McBride C. Epidemiology of isolated foot burns in children presenting to a Queensland paediatric burns centre- a two-year study in warmer climate. Burns Trauma 2017; 5: 6
• 6 Smolle C, Cambiaso-Daniel J, Forbes AA. et al. Recent trends in burn epidemiology worldwide: A systematic review. Burns 2017; 43 (02) 249-257
• 7 Asif M, Ebrahim S, Major M, Caffrey J. The use of Integra™ as a novel technique in deep burn foot management. JPRAS Open 2018; 17: 15-20
• 8 Ali HA, Fayi KA, Alkhathami AM, Alturaiki N, Alshammari EM. Foot drop in patients with extensive 3rd and 4th degree burn, case series study. Int J Burns Trauma 2023; 13 (01) 8-12
• 9 Khan MM, Cheruvu VPR, Krishna D, Laitonjam M, Minz R, Joshi R. Post-traumatic wounds over the dorsum of the foot - our experience. Int J Burns Trauma 2020; 10 (04) 137-145
• 10 Costa CF, Sousa GC, Rodrigues AC. et al. Perfil de pacientes que sofreram queimaduras no Brasil: uma revisão integrativa. Rev Eletronica Acervo Saude 2017; 8: 624-632
• 11 Ribeiro DR, Cruvinel SS, Costa PA, Valente HC, Costa TR. Epidemiological profile of burned patients at the clinical hospital of the federal university of uberlândia in brazil. Rev Bras Cir Plast (RBCP) – Braz J Plast Sugery 2021; 36 (02) 181-187
• 12 Momeni M, Sediegh-Marufi S, Safari-Faramani R, Akhoondinasab MR, Karimi H, Karimi AM. Lower Extremity Burns, Complications, and Outcome. J Burn Care Res 2020; 41 (02) 409-415
• 13 Sasor SE, Chung KC. Upper extremity burns in the developing world. Hand Clin 2019; 35 (04) 457-466
• 14 Tarazi JM, Bitterman AD. Thermal Injuries Occurring to the Foot: A Review. Foot Ankle Clin 2023; 28 (01) 173-185
• 15 Jaiswal KS, Gupta S, Goil P, Mohammad A, Gupta P. Empirical Evidence on the Reliability of Lateral Supramalleolar Flap over Reverse Sural Flap for Local Soft Tissue Coverage of Dorsum of the Foot and Ankle Defects. Indian J Plast Surg 2023; 56 (02) 159-165
• 16 Stockly OR, Wolfe AE, Espinoza LF. et al. The impact of electrical injuries on long-term outcomes: A Burn Model System National Database study. Burns 2020; 46 (02) 352-359
• 17 Pedrazzi NE, Naiken S, La Scala G. Negative pressure wound therapy in pediatric burn patients: a systematic review. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 2020; [Internet]. 10 jun 2020 [citado 29 jun 2023]