Briony Norris¹, Jessica Shapland², Tamsin Mahoney³ , Tom Spring⁴ , Zoe Jones⁵ , Bree Cox⁶ , Kerrie Sayer⁷ , Emma GeeKee⁸ , Dimity Rynne⁹ , Megan Simons¹⁰

¹ Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Stanley St., South Brisbane, 4101, briony.norris@health.qld.gov.au
² Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Stanley St., South Brisbane, 4101, jessica.shapland@health.qld.gov.au
³ Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Stanley St., South Brisbane, 4101, tamsin.mahoney@health.qld.gov.au
⁴ Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Stanley St., South Brisbane, 4101, tom.spring@health.qld.gov.au
⁵ Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Stanley St., South Brisbane, 4101, zoe.jones@health.qld.gov.au
⁶ Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Stanley St., South Brisbane, 4101, bree.cox@health.qld.gov.au
⁷ Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Stanley St., South Brisbane, 4101, kerrie.sayer@health.qld.gov.au
⁸ Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Stanley St., South Brisbane, 4101, emma.geekee@health.qld.gov.au
⁹ Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Stanley St., South Brisbane, 4101, dimity.rynne@health.qld.gov.au
¹⁰ Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Stanley St., South Brisbane, 4101, megan.simons@health.qld.gov.au

Intro/Background

Children attending the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital (LCCH) Pegg Leditschke Paediatric Burns Centre (PLPBC) with axilla burns are treated by both physiotherapy and occupational therapy throughout the continuum of care. The Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy team are investigating the most effective therapy treatment options for children with acute axilla burns as presented in the literature, following a number of high TBSA burns seen in 2015 through LCCH PLPBC involving the axilla.

Method

The literature was evaluated as a critically appraised topic (CAT) with the clinical question; “What constitutes optimal occupational therapy and physiotherapy input when treating children under 16years with a deep partial to full thickness burn injury to their axilla to promote functional outcomes and minimise the risk of contracture?”.  Following this, a literature search of 5 databases (CKN, Pubmed, Cinahl, Embase, Medline) using key search terms including “paediatric” “burn” “axilla” “therapy” was conducted.  Initially articles were chosen according to title and then excluded if information presented in the abstract was deemed irrelevant to the clinical question.  Relevant articles were then critically appraised by the combined Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy team (10 participants in total) using the McMaster Critical Appraisal Tool. Information of relevance to the clinical question is currently being collated

Results

21 articles were identified for critical appraisal.  Results to follow.

Conclusion

This CAT will aim to determine optimal therapy modalities for treatment of paediatric axilla burns to promote function and minimise contracture risk, as identified in the literature.  The outcomes of the CAT will be implemented in practice.

Key Words:

Paediatric, burn, axilla, therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy.

Biography

Occupational Therapist at the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, working in the Pegg Leditschke Paediatric Burns Centre.