Pain and paresthesia in patients with healed burns: an exploratory study

The present study was designed to examine the prevalence and characteristics of painful and paresthetic sensations in a group of patients with healed burns. Adult patients who had been hospitalized for burn injuries during a 7-yr period were contacted and given a structured interview that included a series of questions about their present condition. Patients' medical charts were reviewed to obtain relevant demographic and medical information. The results show that abnormal sensations in healed burns are frequently reported as long as several years after the injury. Of 104 patients interviewed 1 yr or more after a burn injury, 82% reported paresthetic sensations such as tingling, stiffness, cold sensations, and numbness; and 35% complained of pain in the scarred tissue. The prevalence of these sensations was not related to age, sex, or etiology of the burns, but was associated with burn size and skin grafting. The theoretical and clinical implications of these results are discussed with particular emphasis on the need to pursue research on the long-term adverse effects of burn injuries.