FROM MY PT SCHOOL NOTES · PEDIATRICS · CHAPTER 12
Pediatric burns and structural orthopedic concerns
Surgical protection, skin health and meaningful movement must be considered together in pediatric burns and orthopedic rehabilitation.
Burn care has changing phases
The burns lecture distinguishes injury classification, acute care, healing, graft procedures, scar/contracture management and return to function. The rehab plan changes with wound status, pain, infection concerns, surgeon orders and age. Do not reproduce a historical burn-surface chart as a modern clinical calculator.
Orthopedic examination across growth
The general orthopedic lecture reviews bone development, rotational alignment, limb and joint differences, pediatric assessment and surgical or prosthetic pathways. A child's growth plate, skeletal maturity and deformity pattern influence management in ways adult protocols may not capture.
Function is more than tissue length
A contracture or protective position can affect dressing, reaching, play, seating or school mobility. Track tolerance, active participation and skin response. Scarring and fit change as the child grows.
Try a clinical decision
A child with a healing burn is avoiding hand use because of pain. Is a maximal stretch the most logical starting point?
No. Confirm wound and graft restrictions, pain control, protective positioning, skin integrity and functional goals with the treating team before graded movement.
Original class sources: 3 Rehabilitation of the Child with Burns.pdf, 3 Rule of Nines.pdf, 1 Orthopedic Management.pdf, 7 Child Safety Center Presentation.pdf
This is a focused summary from personal PT-school notes, not a substitute for medical evaluation, an instructor course or a current clinical guideline.
