Outcome measures to evaluate the function of the hand after burns; a clinical initiative
Saskia J.M Sizoo,
Margriet E. van Baar,
Natasja Jelsma,
Paul P.M. van Zuijlen,
Marianne K. Nieuwenhuis
Affiliations
Saskia J.M Sizoo
Burn Center, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Corresponding authors at: Burn Center, Maasstad Hospital, PO Box 9100, 3007 AC Rotterdam, the Netherlands (S.J.M. Sizoo).
Margriet E. van Baar
Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Association of Dutch Burn Centers, Burn Center, Maasstad Hospital, PO Box 9100, 3007 AC Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Corresponding authors at: Burn Center, Maasstad Hospital, PO Box 9100, 3007 AC Rotterdam, the Netherlands (S.J.M. Sizoo).
Natasja Jelsma
Department of Rehabilitation, Red Cross Hospital, Vondellaan 13, 1942 LE Beverwijk, the Netherlands
Paul P.M. van Zuijlen
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Red Cross Hospital, Beverwijk, the Netherlands; Burn Center, Red Cross Hospital, Vondellaan 13, 1942 LE Beverwijk, the Netherlands; Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery and Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Marianne K. Nieuwenhuis
Association of Dutch Burn Centers, Burn Center, Martini Hospital, Van Swietenplein 1, 9728 NT Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, Groningen, the Netherlands
Background: Outcome assessment is essential to understand the impact and recovery of burns of the hand and tailor treatment. There is however, a large variety of measures and outcome assessment is often incomplete. The aim was therefore to initiate a set of outcome assessments for use in a clinical setting. Method: A concept set was drafted, based on the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, which distinguished two phases, three patient states and included both patient reported and clinical outcomes. Subsequently, potential assessments were allocated to the various outcomes. This concept was discussed during the European Burns Association congress in 2013 and revised. The revision was sent to 65 colleagues from 28 institutions, accompanied by a survey. Results: Eleven surveys were returned from 16 persons representing 9 institutions from 6 countries. Based on the feedback, final revisions were made. Points raised were time investment and translations of not all assessments already available. Conclusions: With multidisciplinary and international input, a multidimensional set of outcome assessments for burns of the hand has been established, covering almost all domains of functioning. This first step towards more uniform clinical evaluation, will contribute to knowledge on outcome and effectiveness of treatment of hand burns.
