Trapezoid Advancement Flaps for the Treatment of Severe Upper Extremity Burn Contractures Limiting the Risk of Recurrence.
Ann Plast Surg
; 86(2): 151-158, 2021 02 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32756246
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Severe postburn contractures can lead to partial or total loss of function of the limbs, with devastating socioeconomic and psychosocial impact on the individual, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We present a surgical technique for the treatment of severe burn contractures with the purpose of limiting recurrence of the contracture after surgery, which was developed based on the observation that in most burn contractures, one side of a contracture has unburnt, soft, and pliable healthy skin. By advancing this skin as a flap over the joint crease, a bridge of healthy tissue is interposed. We postulate that the pliable skin, together with the fact that secondary wound contracture progresses away from the joint in the skin-grafted areas adjacent to the flap and not over a mobile joint, promote healing, prevent skin graft breakdown, and limit recurrence of the contracture in the long term.METHODS:
We retrospectively analyzed data of all patients who have undergone surgery for severe burn contractures of elbow and axilla by means of our technique on the MV Africa Mercy between January 2013 and February 2014.RESULTS:
In 27 patients (19 female, 8 male) with a mean age of 16.4 years, shoulder range of motion improved significantly from preoperative 111.0° to postoperative 149.4° of abduction-adduction. The elbow range of motion improved from preoperative 76.6° to postoperative 108.6° of flexion-extension, with a significant reduction in the residual elbow contracture from 60.5° preoperatively to 18.5° postoperatively. The average follow-up was 3 months (range, 1.5-7 months).CONCLUSIONS:
We conclude that this relatively simple and safe technique limits the risk for early postoperative healing complications and recurrence of the contractures in the long term.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Quemaduras
/
Contractura
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adolescent
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Ann Plast Surg
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article