[Role and implementation experience of splints in pediatric burn rehabilitation]

The maintenance of posture and anti-contracture treatment are the critical elements of comprehensive burn rehabilitation in the overall treatment period of pediatric burns. Although domestic experts in burn discipline have formulated guidelines for burn rehabilitation, the maintenance of posture and design and manufacture of splints for anti-scar contractures in children with burns are different from that for adults with burns in many ways. Starting with paying the attention to the rehabilitation problems in pediatric burns, especially considering the anatomical, psychological, and social behavior characteristics of children in developmental period, the author's team effectively applies splints to maximize the prevention of contractures in children and maintain and improve the range of their joint movements. The splints designed to prevent contractures in pediatric burns shall fit the small limb and meet their expected goals of rehabilitation. In each aspect of the production and use of splints, it is necessary to fully evaluate and consider the scar characteristics, growth and development status, activity level, and compliance of children, and adaptability and fixation methods of the splints, so as to select the appropriate splint type and formulate the wearing plan.