Assessing the impact of missing data in evaluating the recovery of minor burn patients

Little published evidence is available regarding the recovery of patients with minor burns. Poor attendance at review clinics results in incomplete data which hampers accurate analysis of patient recovery. It is often assumed that non-attendance for review is due to full recovery and the inconvenience associated with clinic attendance. This study aimed to obtain final outcomes for a group of minor burn patients and identify factors contributing to missing data.

A group of patients with minor burn+upper limb involvement, noted to have 81% non-attendance at 6-month review, were contacted to evaluate their recovery and service satisfaction. The stability of responses from 6 months after burn was compared in a subset of participants who did attend review. Demographics of non-responders were compared to responders.

Final outcomes were obtained from 67% of participants. Mean BSHS-B and QuickDASH scores for this group were 150.2 and 1.55% disability, respectively, indicating a good recovery. Subsequent non-responders were significantly younger (p=0.016), suggestive of a better recovery than responders. Dissatisfaction with the service was not a contributing factor in non-attendance.

Minor burn patients with upper limb involvement recover well and intensive review of these patients is unnecessary.