Clinical practice recommendations for positioning of the burn patient

• Present a comprehensive review of the literature on the topic of burn patient positioning.
• Provide total body surface area recommendations for positioning of the burn patient.
• Illustrate specific positioning recommendations for the entire body photographically.

The objective of this review was to systematically examine whether there is clinical evidence to support recommendations for positioning patients with acute burn. Review of the literature revealed minimal evidence-based practice regarding the positioning of burn patients in the acute and intermediate phases of recovery. This manuscript describes recommendations based on the limited evidence found in the literature as well as the expert opinion of burn rehabilitation specialists. These positioning recommendations are designed to guide those rehabilitation professionals who treat burn survivors during their acute hospitalization and are intended to assist in the understanding and development of effective positioning regimens.