Boost for Burns

Date: 14/07/08

"In 1997 I was in the Royal Brisbane Hospital burns unit with burns to my upper body after an electrical panel exploded in my face," Mr Campbell said.

"I mentioned this story during a recent leadership workshop and this helped the group make their decision to forward the money to RPH."

RPH Burns Senior Physiotherapist Matthew McClure said the Hospital was extremely grateful for the donation as it enabled them to purchase a mobile hand CPM.

"A massive thank you must go to Rio Tinto as the mobile hand CPM (continuous passive motion) is an excellent treatment option for acute burn patients as it reduces pain, tightness and swelling in burn patients," Matthew said.

The CPM machine wraps around the wrist of the patient and moves the hand and fingers in broad arcs of slow movement.

This treatment provides flexibility and increased options in rehabilitation as it can be used for long periods of time, particularly for patients in intensive care where they are sedated and cannot actively cooperate withthe rehabilitation program.

"Over 80 per cent of our patients have upper limb injuries and many of them have issues of hypersensitivity and pain which limits their hand and upper limb function," Matthew said.

"The CPM is a useful way to increase their hand range of motion through reducing movement resistance and adding extra force to pain inhibited or weak muscles.

"This is an area of research that has not been explored fully and Rio Tinto have now provided us with the opportunity to develop this research and be the first group to seriously investigate the early use of hand CPM for burn patients," he said.

RPH Burns Senior Physiotherapist Matthew McClure (left) pictured with Rio Tinto Minerals Operations Manager for the Dampier salt operation Steve Campbell