Special Considerations for Pediatric Burn Injuries

Physical rehabilitation for burn survivors of any age can pose unique challenges to the treating therapist. For children who sustain burns early in life, treatment and long-term follow-up should be conducted under the guidance of a burn center for the early identification of needed interventions during periods of growth and development. It is important to respond not just to the immediate physical needs of the patient but also to consider the fine and gross motor skill progression, future implications of growth and development, the need for family involvement in the entire care process, and the innate need for children to play and explore, even during recovery from a life altering injury.