Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Patients With Acute Burn Injuries

Burn injuries may trigger a systemic inflammatory response and lead to impaired functional recovery. Non-invasive auricular vagus nerve stimulation may modulate autonomic and inflammatory pathways and may support recovery in patients with acute burn injuries. This randomized controlled study will be conducted in adults with acute second- or third-degree burn injuries involving 5% to 30% of total body surface area. Eligible participants will be enrolled within the first 72 hours after hospitalization and randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive non-invasive auricular vagus nerve stimulation in addition to conventional physiotherapy. Stimulation will be delivered using surface electrodes placed on the auricular region of the ear. Each session will last 20 minutes, and the intervention will be administered for a total of 10 sessions. The control group will receive conventional physiotherapy only. Conventional physiotherapy will be planned according to individual clinical needs and may include strengthening exercises, stretching exercises, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, electrotherapy, balance exercises, fine motor activities, active range of motion exercises, and neurodevelopmental treatment approaches. Outcome assessments will be performed before treatment and after completion of the 10 treatment sessions. Inflammatory response will be evaluated using C-reactive protein levels obtained from routine blood test records. Functional recovery will be evaluated using the Functional Independence Measure, joint range of motion, and muscle strength assessments.