Physical and psychological outcome after burns.

The relationship between compliance of moderately or severely burned patients with suggested plans of treatment and outcome was examined retrospectively by reviewing medical records. This review was limited to patients admitted to our facilities between 1977 and 1982 with burns in the moderate or major burn category and admitted within seven days of their injuries. The outcome measures included the following: limitation in range of motion (ROM), hypertrophic scar formation, total days of care required, quality of life, and impact of event. Noncompliance was related to the outcome as measured by limitation in ROM (P less than 0.01) and total days of care required (P less than 0.0001). A trend for diminished quality of life was related to noncompliance (P less than 0.08). Extent of injury (measured by total body surface area involved) was not related to ROM, quality of life, or impact of event but was related to total days of care required (P less than 0.01); there was also a trend toward scarring (P less than 0.06).