THE ROLE OF PHYSICAL THERAPY AND KINESITHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH BURNS FROM THE KOCANI FIRE
Keywords:
burns, hands, skin transplantation, physical therapy, physiotherapyAbstract
Thermal burns are a serious traumatic injury that can lead to significant functional limitations, contractures, hypertrophic scars, psychological consequences and reduced quality of life. In addition to acute surgical and medical treatment, physical therapy and kinesitherapy play a key role in the rehabilitation process and functional recovery of burn patients. They are especially important in patients with skin transplantation, in whom there is an increased risk of limited mobility, development of contractures and long-term functional disorders. The aim of the paper is to present the significance of physical therapy and kinesitherapy in patients with thermal burns, with an emphasis on rehabilitation in patients with skin transplantation and the importance of continuity in the implementation of physical treatment. The research was conducted as a presentation of two clinical cases of patients with thermal burns. The medical documentation, clinical findings, surgical treatment, skin transplantation and the rehabilitation process were analyzed. Various physical methods and kinesitherapy were applied to the patients in order to improve mobility, prevent contractures, reduce functional limitations and improve the quality of life.
The first patient is 22 years old with severe thermal burns and skin grafts on the upper extremities. He underwent long-term and continuous physical rehabilitation treatment. Despite the present contractures and hypertrophic scars, continuous physical therapy contributed to improving mobility, preserving functional capacity and facilitating daily activities. The second patient is 17 years old with II B/III degree burns in the face and both hands, in whom a skin graft was performed using the Thiersch method. Although early kinesitherapy and physical therapy were recommended in a timely manner, the patient did not attend physical therapy regularly and did not continuously follow the rehabilitation protocol. As a result, the patient had functional limitations, reduced range of motion and a risk of persistent contractures.
The results of both cases show that early and continuous physiotherapy, i.e. physical therapy, has a significant role in the prevention of contractures, the improvement of mobility and functional recovery in burn patients. In addition, the results indicate that the success of rehabilitation does not depend only on the severity of the injury and surgical treatment, but also on the regularity and active participation of the patient in the therapeutic process.
The conclusion indicates that physical medicine and rehabilitation are an indispensable part of the treatment of patients with thermal burns. A continuous, early-started and individualized rehabilitation approach allows for better functional recovery, prevention of complications and improvement of the quality of life in burn patients.
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