Burns and Plastics Therapy

Our Burns and Plastics team is made up of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, play specialists and dietitians. We are a regional unit and cover a large area surrounding Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Worksop and beyond.

The Burns and Plastics Therapy team work 6 days a week to provide comprehensive assessment and treatment for children who have had a burn injury or plastic surgery intervention, both elective and trauma.

The therapy team support the children and the families throughout their journey from initial injury or intervention to scar maturation and beyond. Some families will stay with the service until moving on to adult services at 16. 

Find out more about our Burns service.

What to expect

You may see a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist. This is to check how well you are moving the affected area and to assess the risk of scarring. We could also give you information about taking care of your injury or operation site.

We may see you as an inpatient (when you are staying in hospital), at dressings changes or as an outpatient in the pink clinic.

Therapy

Burns and plastics therapy focuses on restoring and maintaining movement and function after an injury. Having physical therapy is very important during the healing stages of a burn. Burns can be very uncomfortable and some children can be reluctant and scared to move which can lead to problems later.

Our therapists work closely together to assess burn wounds and skin grafts. The therapists may use exercises, stretches and play to encourage movement during rehabilitation. Our occupational therapists may also make splints to aid this process.

We see children and young people when they are staying in the hospital and as outpatients, including dressing changes, until they are happy they have regained their best level of function. We also provide advice and support in returning to school and sporting activities.

After healing the therapy team provides a service for scar management, including providing pressure garments. Scars can take from 18 months to 2 years to fully mature but may require monitoring as your child grows. A specialist service that deals with cosmetic camouflage is also available.

Burns therapy room

You may come to our therapy room for dressings changes or rehabilitation with your therapist. You can find this room on Ward 2.

Referrals

We normally take referrals through the emergency department or from other admissions to our wards in the hospital.

Useful websites

• Northern Burns Care Network 
• British Burns Association 
• Children’s Burns Trust 
• Theo’s Burns Club 
• Katie Piper Foundation 
• Changing Faces 
• Chartered Society of Physiotherapy 
• Burns first aid advice on NHS.uk

Useful resources

Therapy resources and more

Stretches for muscles in the legs

Why do my muscles become tight? As you are growing, your body ma...

Therapy exercises for scar tissue around the torso

Once a burn wound has healed, scar tissue can form. This can red...

Therapy exercises after a burn to the torso

It is important to continue to exercise your joints after a burn...

Therapy exercises after a mouth burn injury

It is important to exercise your joints after a burn injury. If ...

Therapy exercises after shoulder burn injury

It is important to exercise your joints after a burn injury. If ...

Therapy exercises after a toe burn injury

It is important to exercise your joints after a burn injury. If ...

Therapy exercises after a neck burn injury

It is important to exercise your joints after a burn injury. If ...

Therapy exercises after a knee burn injury

It is important to exercise your joints after a burn injury. If ...

Therapy exercises after a hip burn injury

It is important to exercise your joints after a burn injury. If ...

Therapy exercises after an elbow burn injury

It is important to exercise your joints after a burn injury. If ...

Therapy exercises after a hand and wrist burn injury

It is important to exercise your joints after a burn injury. If ...

Therapy exercises after an ankle burn injury

It is important to exercise your joints after a burn injury. If ...

Caring for your child’s burn at home

How do I care for my child’s burn? All dressings should be...

Desensitisation techniques for pain and hypersensitivity

What is desensitisation? Some people who experience persistent p...