Background: Severe burn injuries often lead to lasting physical and psychological consequences. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among burn survivors and may be influenced by persistent somatic complaints. This study examined whether PTSD is associated with a higher burden of physical symptoms during and after inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: We conducted a subgroup analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study involving 103 adult burn patients in inpatient rehabilitation. Based on Impact of Event Scale—Revised (IES-R) scores and clinical evaluation, patients were grouped as PTSD (n = 43) or No PTSD (n = 60). Physical symptoms assessed included skin dryness (xerosis), temperature sensitivity (cold/heat), numbness, skin tightness, and increased sweating. Results: Patients with PTSD reported significantly more physical symptoms at follow-up than those without PTSD: xerosis (74% vs. 50%, p = 0.03), cold sensitivity (61% vs. 35%, p = 0.02), heat sensitivity (63% vs. 39%, p = 0.03), numbness (63% vs. 33%, p = 0.006), skin tightness (82% vs. 52%, p = 0.004), and sweating (45% vs. 19%, p = 0.01). PTSD patients also had more severe burns, reflected in higher full-thickness TBSA (2% vs. 0%, p = 0.03) and elevated ABSI scores (median 6 vs. 5, p = 0.04). Conclusion: PTSD is associated with a higher and more persistent burden of physical skin symptoms after severe burns. These findings underscore the importance of early PTSD screening and integrated psychological-somatic rehabilitation to improve long-term recovery and quality of life.

Burn injuries have a lasting impact on physical and psychological health. This study evaluated outcomes for two burn-specific rehabilitation programs based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) model. In a prospective multicenter trial, 103 patients with work-related burn injuries underwent multidisciplinary rehabilitation in either a newly established ICF-based program (Center A) or a well-established program (Center B). A comprehensive outcome assessment was performed at the beginning (T1) and the end of inpatient rehabilitation (T2), and at three (T3) and 12 months (T4) after discharge to evaluate the effectiveness of the two rehabilitation programs. The study included an analysis of longitudinal changes within each center to assess patient outcomes over time and a comparison between the two centers at each time point to evaluate potential differences in rehabilitation effectiveness. Primary outcomes were the Physical Component Score (PCS) and Mental Component Score (MCS) of the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), with secondary outcomes including grip strength, active range of motion (AROM), and burn scar assessment among others. Results showed significant improvements in physical health (SF-36 PCS) from T1 to T4 (p < 0.001), while mental health (SF-36 MCS) showed no significant change (p = 0.20). Grip strength and AROM improved significantly over time in both centers. Non-inferiority between centers was confirmed for all outcomes except MCS at T2 and T3. This study highlights the positive impact of ICF-based rehabilitation on physical recovery, with ongoing mental health needs underscoring the importance of long-term psychological support for burn survivors.

Background: Severe burn injuries often lead to lasting physical and psychological con-sequences. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among burn survivors and may be influenced by persistent somatic complaints. This study examined whether PTSD is associated with a higher burden of physical symptoms during and after inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: We conducted a subgroup analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort study involving 103 adult burn patients in inpatient rehabilitation. Based on Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) scores and clinical evaluation, patients were grouped as PTSD (n=43) or No PTSD (n=60). Physical symptoms assessed included skin dryness (xerosis), temperature sensitivity (cold/heat), numbness, skin tightness, and increased sweating. Results: Patients with PTSD reported significantly more physical symptoms at follow-up than those without PTSD: xerosis (74% vs. 50%, p=0.03), cold sensitivity (61% vs. 35%, p=0.02), heat sensitivity (63% vs. 39%, p=0.03), numbness (63% vs. 33%, p=0.006), skin tightness (82% vs. 52%, p=0.004), and sweating (45% vs. 19%, p=0.01). PTSD patients also had more severe burns, reflected in higher full-thickness TBSA (2% vs. 0%, p=0.03) and elevated ABSI scores (median 6 vs. 5, p=0.04). Conclusion: PTSD is associated with a higher and more persistent burden of physical skin symptoms after severe burns. These findings highlight the need for early PTSD screening and integrated psychological-somatic rehabilitation to improve long-term recovery and quality of life.

Burn injuries frequently result in long-term functional limitations, making structured, injury-specific rehabilitation essential. Modern rehabilitation emphasizes patient-centered, goal-oriented care, and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a standardized framework for classifying and evaluating such goals. This study aimed to characterize individual-defined rehabilitation goals after burn injury and develop a disease-specific ICF core set. Within a prospective, two-center clinical trial in Germany, adult burn survivors undergoing inpatient rehabilitation were interviewed to identify up to 3 personal rehabilitation goals. The goals were inventoried at admission and reviewed during rehabilitation. All reported goals were systematically linked to second-level ICF categories using established rules. Frequencies were analyzed for the full cohort, first-stated goals, and subgroups defined by burn size (>20% vs ≤20% total body surface area, [TBSA]). A total of 103 participants (96% male, median age 44 years) reported 286 rehabilitation goals. Most goals mapped to Body Functions (67%), particularly neuromusculoskeletal and movement-related functions (27%), joint mobility (19%), and skin functions (22%). Activities and Participation accounted for one-third of goals (33%), dominated by mobility (23%), especially walking (9%). Goals related to mental functions (1%) or cardiovascular functions (5%) were rarely mentioned. The distribution of first-stated goals was consistent with overall results, and no major differences were observed between participants with major and minor burns. During rehabilitation, two-thirds of participants maintained all their initial goals. A short ICF core set comprising 21 categories covered 94% of all goals, including 2 categories not previously represented: Control of voluntary movement functions (B760) and Driving (D475). Burn survivors prioritize rehabilitation goals focused on restoring mobility, muscle function, and skin integrity. Psychological and contextual aspects are less frequently articulated. These findings validate and extend existing expert-derived ICF core sets, emphasizing the importance of incorporating individual perspectives into rehabilitation planning. German Registry for Clinical Trials (DRKS00017702).