Mobilization practices for patients with burn injury in critical care.

Purpose: Patients with burn usually undergo prolonged hospitalization due partially to the treatment of wounds and scars. Although the benefits of early mobilization are well-known in critical care patients, there are a lack of studies reporting mobilization practices and functional status for patients with burn.

Materials: Clinical and physiotherapy data were daily collected, including ICU mobility scale (IMS) and reported barriers to mobilization therapy during a one-year period. At hospital discharge, the 6-min walking test (6MWT), Medical Research Council scale (MRCS) and handgrip strength test were applied to evaluate the patients' functionality.

Results: Of the 74 patients admitted, 66% were placed on mechanical ventilation (MV). Mobilization therapy was administered in 67.2% of physiotherapy sessions, with passive mobilization being the most prevalent (53.2%) followed by active in-bed exercises (13.6%). Reported barriers for mobilization included hemodynamic instability followed by limited time for assistance. At hospital discharge, the 6MWD was 270(136) meters. A positive correlation was found between handgrip evaluation and 6MWD and a negative correlation with hospital length of stay.

Conclusions: Mobilization therapy of patients with burns in the ICU was characterized by a low mobility level during MV with a low functional status at hospital discharge.