IJSR - International Journal of Scientific Research

Anjana Nigam; Nandkishore Jatav; Dakshesh Shah; Shipra Sharma

Volume : VI, Issue : IV, April - 2017

Incisional release of post burn contracture of upper extremities followed by split thickness skin graft and correlation of outcome with various demographic factors

Anjana Nigam, Nandkishore Jatav, Dakshesh Shah, Shipra Sharma

Abstract :

A study of incisional release of post burn contracture of upper extremities followed by split thickness skin graft was carried out and its outcome was correlated with various demographic factors. The most common cause of development of post burn contracture of upper extremity was flame burn (81%), followed by scald burn (9.5%) and electric burn (9.5%). Females (57.1%) were more commonly affected with burn and developed contracture than males (42.9%) due to accidental burn from kerosene or gas chulha (cooking furnace) during cooking. Axillary region was the most frequently involved region with post burn contracture (PBC) followed by elbow region and hand contracture. High incidence of post–burn contracture (PBC) was found in lower socioeconomic group. Low level of education, poverty, unawareness, lack of knowledge about the course of the disease, and lack of post operative physiotherapy and proper splintage lead to development of contracture. Most of the patients developing PBC either did not received post burn physiotherapy or received minimal physiotherapy. Pre and post operative goniometric assessment after three months of contracture release followed by split thickness skin grafting of contracture showed significant improvement in range of motion and satisfactory result was observed in 61.9% of cases.