Brad Schmitt¹

¹Royal Adelaide Hospital

Abstract:
A 75% TBSA burn was admitted to ICU post the Pinery bushfires in November 2015. The patient was critically ill and spent a significant amount of time in ICU unable to progress with mobility due to intubation and sedation, awaiting dermal substitute integration, confusion and need for tracheostomy among other medical issues.

Upon surgeon clearance a recently purchased supine cycle ergometer (MotoMed®, letto 2) was used to facilitate early movement and strengthening of the patients lower limbs. This ‘smart’ cycle ergometer is able to be positioned over the patients bed and has the ability to perform the cycling movement passively, active-assisted or actively depending on the patients level effort or assistance required. Other functions include adjustable resistance, speed (rpm) and ability to detect spasm.

A total of 12 sessions (5 while in ICU) were conducted using the MotoMed® over the course of approximately 1 month. On the first occasion of use the patient performed 0.4km of cycling over 20 minutes, all of which was passive. On the final occasion of use the patient performed 2.73km of cycling of which 2.66km (97%) was active over 15 minutes.

It was found that the MotoMed® supine cycle ergometer was a useful tool to facilitate early leg range of movement and strengthening in this patient example.

Biography:
Senior Burns Physiotherapist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital