Article

OBJECTIVE: To follow up the long-term outcome in return-to-work (RTW) rate in
burn-injury patients, and to determine the degree of impairment in pulmonary and
muscular function and exercise tolerance. DESIGN: A prospective, longitudinal
follow-up study without a control group. PATIENTS:
Twenty-five burn-injury
patients referred for medical-vocational rehabilitation. METHODS: Return-to-work
rate was followed after completed medical-vocational rehabilitation. Pulmonary
function was evaluated with spirometry, diffusing capacity and radio spirometry.
Exercise capacity was determined using a bicycle ergometer. Muscle functions
evaluated in the arms and legs were: isokinetic torque, isometric strength,
endurance and muscular strength utilization. RESULTS: Return-to-work rate was
87%. During bicycle exercise tests the patients, on average, reached their
expected workloads. The dominating lung func-tion abnormality observed on lung
scintigraphy was delayed wash-out time of inhaled radioactive xenon gas,
suggesting airway obstruction. All tests of shoulder-flexor and knee-extensor
muscle function showed large minimum-maximum differences. Mean isometric
endurance of shoulder flexors was lower than mean of references, and isokinetic
knee extensor torques were slightly lower. CONCLUSION: High return-to-work rates
can be achieved after burn injury requiring hospital-ward care. Despite
measurable impairments in muscle strength/endurance and pulmonary function in a
substantial proportion of these patients, overall normal bicycle exercise
capacity was observed except for a few cases.

Langue : ANGLAIS