Scar Mobilization Improves Scars and Quality of Life in Burned Children.

Burn injuries, especially to the upper extremities, are common in children and can lead to hypertrophic scarring, resulting in pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. These complications significantly impact a child's ability to perform daily activities and affect overall quality of life and development. Rehabilitation plays a vital role in recovery, with scar tissue mobilization being a key intervention to improve scar flexibility and function. While commonly used, there is limited evidence on its specific effects in pediatric upper limb burns. This study aims to assess the impact of scar tissue mobilization on scar thickness, pliability and quality of life in children with upper extremity burns.

The study design will be Quasi experimental study. The data will be collected from mayo hospital, Lahore. The study will be completed in 10 months after the approval of synopsis. Children aged 8 to 13 years old will be included in this study and each patient will receive the same intervention. The participants will receive scar tissue mobilization intervention for 15 minutes twice a week for 5 weeks. Participants fulfilling the eligibility criteria will be asked to assign the consent form before entering into the study. The scar thickness and pliability will be measure from the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and quality of life with Brisbane Scar Impact Profile (BBSIP). The synopsis will be presented to Research Ethical Committee of Riphah International University, Lahore for ethical approval to conduct this study. Data will be analyzed through SPSS 27.

Inclusion criteria

• 8-13 years
• Stable scar and referred for scar management
• Affected upper extremity joints (shoulder, elbow and wrist) with burned injuries
• Partial thickness and full thickness burn.

Exclusion criteria

• Pre-existing skin condition or allergies
• Neurological disorders affecting motor function
• Fracture with burn in upper limbs
• Patient with only superficial burns