Prosthetic Reconstruction, Rehabilitation & Surgical Planning —
Training activity: 16

Details

Lead a patient assessment for dynamic splint therapy following facial burns. Discuss individual patient requirements and prosthetic rehabilitation

Plan, design, manufacture and fit the final therapeutic splint and provide aftercare support

Type

Developmental training activity (DTA)

Evidence requirements

Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.

Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.

An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.

Reflective practice guidance

The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.

Before action

• What are the principles of dynamic splint therapy for burn scars?
• What are the key aspects of patient assessment and aftercare in this context?
• What will you learn about assessing burn scar contracture and the role of dynamic splints?
• What are the different manufacturing techniques and materials used in these devices?
• What are the design and manufacturing considerations for dynamic splints, including materials and biomechanics?
• How will you learn to fit the splint and provide effective patient education and aftercare?
• Have you reviewed the principles of burn scar management and dynamic splinting?
• Have you discussed different splint designs and materials with experienced therapists?
• Have you observed patient assessments and splint fittings?
• Have you explored the psychological effects traumatic burns can have on a patient?

In action

• While leading the assessment, discussing requirements, planning, designing, manufacturing, and fitting the dynamic splint, and considering aftercare, are you consciously considering the specific needs of a patient with facial burns, including scar management and functional rehabilitation? What immediate decisions are you making regarding splint design, materials, and force application? During discussions, are you adapting your communication to address the patient’s potential pain and emotional distress?
• Is your assessment effectively capturing the extent of the burn injury, scar tissue characteristics, and functional limitations? Are you encountering any challenges in designing and manufacturing a dynamic splint that provides appropriate pressure and support while being comfortable for the patient? What immediate learning is occurring as you work with a burn patient and apply principles of scar therapy? How does this activity connect to your understanding of wound healing, scar management, and biomechanics?
• If the patient experiences discomfort with the initial splint fit or if the scar tissue is not responding as expected, what alternative splint designs or adjustment strategies are you considering in real-time? Do you need to seek advice from specialists in burn rehabilitation or splint therapy? Are you ensuring that your assessment and treatment remain within your clinical expertise and are sensitive to the patient’s needs?

On action

• Describe the specific considerations when leading an assessment for a patient with facial burns requiring dynamic splint therapy. What were the key individual requirements identified regarding scar management and rehabilitation? Describe the planning, design, manufacturing, and fitting process of the final therapeutic splint. What specific aftercare instructions were provided, focusing on dynamic splint therapy? How did the patient respond?
• What specific skills or knowledge did you develop or improve in assessing patients with facial burns, planning, designing, manufacturing, fitting, and providing aftercare for dynamic keloid splints? What did you learn about the aetiology and treatment of burns and scar formation? Were there any unexpected challenges or successes during any stage of the process? What did you learn from these? How did the patient’s individual requirements and the nature of the burn injury influence your approach?
• What areas for continued development have you identified in dynamic splint therapy for burn patients and scar management? How can you apply the knowledge and skills gained to future cases involving facial burns and scar rehabilitation? What resources or support might you need to further develop in this area, such as understanding burn protocols or splinting techniques?

Beyond action

• Have you revisited experiences with dynamic splint therapy for burn scar management? How has your understanding of scar aetiology, biomechanics, and therapeutic splinting evolved?
• How have these experiences impacted upon your current practice in assessing and managing burn scars or other soft tissue contractures? Are you more skilled in splint design and patient instruction?
• How might these experiences contribute towards your future practice in more complex burn rehabilitation cases or the development of novel splinting techniques? What did you learn about material properties and patient compliance?

Relevant learning outcomes

#	Outcome
# 1	Outcome Deliver quality patient centred care with the best interests of patients in all elements of practice.
# 2	Outcome Practice in accordance with local and national health and safety policies, regulatory requirements and overall service governance.
# 3	Outcome Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.
# 4	Outcome Identify patients who need further specialist support and refer to the appropriate healthcare specialist.
# 6	Outcome Perform clinical investigations, formulate treatment plans and manufacture medical devices to a safe clinical standard.
# 8	Outcome Select appropriate biomedical materials and components/instrumentation used in the treatment of patients and the manufacture of custom-made medical devices.
# 9	Outcome Practice in partnership with other clinical specialisms as part of a multidisciplinary team and understand their roles and their impact on patient care and pathway.
# 10	Outcome Apply the principals of a quality management system to their professional practice.
# 12	Outcome Assess and interpret patients’ needs to provide customised treatment dependent on medical, physical, social and psychological requirements.