Burn Care and Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice.

In this text, which is an addition to the FA Davis series on contemporary perspectives in rehabilitation, the authors do an excellent job of achieving their goal of preparing a comprehensive - in both depth and breadth of information - text on burn care rehabilitation. Written primarily by therapists, the text contains a wealth of information germane to the needs of therapists, therapist assistants, and therapy students. Although this superb text was written primarily for individuals in physical therapy, it contains information and clinical applications pertinent to other health care providers involved in the management of individuals with burns.

The text is divided into four major sections. Each of the 22 chapters includes a summary and relevant, contemporary references. In addition, the authors have provided extensive appendixes on a number of products and devices appropriate to burn care, and a glossary of burn terminology. Most chapters contain appropriate line drawings and black-and-white photographs that enhance the text. Those chapters that relate to therapeutic management are enhanced by case studies.

Section 1, entitled "The Fundamentals," includes five chapters that present the concepts basic to understanding burn wounds and burn care. Included are chapters on the history of burn care, the structure and function of the skin, the pathology of burn wounds, biomechanics of normal skin and scar tissue, and the burn wound healing process. These chapters provide an excellent foundation for the further study of burn care.

Section 2, "The Care," focuses on the immediate care and resuscitation of the individual with burn wounds. The section begins with a chapter on triage and resuscitation. This chapter presents clear and easily understood information related to trauma assessment, immediate fluid management, escharotomy, severity of injury related to site and extent, and injuries caused by electrical and chemical agents. The remaining two chapters provide in-depth information regarding burn wound care and surgical management of burn wounds.

Section 3 includes seven chapters devoted to physical therapy rehabilitation of the individual with burns. The primary and contributing authors provide thorough coverage of all aspects of rehabilitative care. Chapters on evaluation and treatment planning, positioning, splinting, exercise, ambulation in lower-extremity burns, scar management, physical agents, and discharge and follow-up care provide essential information for the reader. Although this section builds upon information presented in previous sections, the chapters contain sufficient information to allow the reader to delve into this material without reading the previous sections.

The last section, "The Concerns," covers a number of specialized topics not

typically encountered in burn management texts. In addition to an excellent and comprehensive chapter on psychologic support that includes interventions for pain, this section contains chapters on pediatric management, management of individuals with hand burns, complications in the neuromusculoskeletal systems, management of individuals with electrical or chemical burns, and other skin impairments such as frostbite. Again, many chapters in this section build upon previous chapters, but can also stand alone.

The authors have provided a text with an abundance of information for clinicians and students alike. This well-written text clearly presents concepts and information geared to its intended audience. One does not have to sequentially move through the material to understand the concepts presented in the various chapters. The rehabilitation section, in particular, contains useful information presented in a way that allows the reader to apply the information to patients and develop an appropriate patient-care plan.

This text could serve as a reference in clinical department libraries and physical therapy education program libraries. I highly recommend this text to clinicians involved in burn care and to faculty members who teach in the area of burn care. It is a timely, comprehensive clinical reference.