Evaluating Patient Perceptions of their Upper Extremity Function and Rehabilitation Outcomes After Acute Burn Injury

The objective of this study was to describe perceived upper extremity function in patients with acute upper extremity burn injuries, examine changes during hospitalization, and explore relationships among patient perception, ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), and pain. This single center, retrospective, observational quantitative study included 110 adult patients with upper extremity burns. Perceived function was measured using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH). Demographic and clinical data-including burn mechanism, total body surface area, joint involvement, and discharge destination-were collected. AM-PAC Daily Activity scores and pain ratings were analyzed to assess relationships among perceived function, ADL performance, and pain. Patients reported poor perceived upper extremity function following acute burn injury, reflected by high QuickDASH scores. A greater proportion of patients demonstrated improvement than worsening in QuickDASH scores during hospitalization, with 54.3% showing improvement and 30.9% exceeding the minimal clinically important difference of 15.9 points; however, the overall change did not reach statistical significance. AM-PAC Daily Activity scores improved significantly, increasing from a mean of 17.96 at evaluation to 19.86 at discharge (p < .001). QuickDASH scores were moderately correlated with pain (Spearman's r = 0.56, p = 0.004). Patients with upper extremity burns report substantial early functional limitations but demonstrate progress during hospitalization. Improvements in pain were significantly correlated with improvements in perceived upper extremity function. These findings may inform rehabilitation and the design of future research.