Research & Practice
Nutritional Interventions in Severe Road Rash
This student reviewed a case study of a 21-year-old male patient admitted to Harborview Medical Center with severe road rash with partial- and full-thickness burns suffered from being dragged underneath a car for multiple city blocks. The patient arrived at the hospital intubated and sedated. Although the patient showed no signs of wasting, no nutrition history was available due to sedation.
There are currently limited guidelines for road rash-specific burns. Dietitians, therefore, often reference the nutritional intervention protocol for thermal burns, which are similar in nature to road rash burns:
- Provide nutrition within 24 hours of admit to improve patient outcome.
- Use predictive equations, indirect calorimetry, TUN assay, weight, and laboratory data to guide nutritional interventions.
- Ensure adequate provision of calories and protein to account for hypermetabolism (metabolic rate can double in patients with severe burns for more than one year) and prevent loss of lean body mass.
- Intensive micronutrient supplementation can promote wound healing and immune function.
Harborview dietitians followed the recommended course of treatment over eight weeks, continually adjusting the thermal burn nutrition guidelines to account for the patient’s unique condition. Thus, the student noted the importance of using objective data and reassessment when information specific to a presenting condition is lacking.
Materials Available
Project Type(s): MNT Concentration Clinical Poster
Author(s): Stephanie Du
Program(s): Master of Science, RDN Training
Year: 2025
Adviser(s):