Contracture occurs when burn skin matures, thickens, and tightens. This prevents the movement of the scarred area. It usually occurs when the burn occurs over the joint. A contracture is a serious condition of a burn. Contraction leads to physical deformity caused by skin constrictions and functional limitation. The most common deformity is scarring and sticking together of skin around the joints is contracture. Injury from burn contraction includes thermal radiation from short circuits, chemical burn, and fire.
Based on the severity burn is classified into three types:
- First degree
- Second degree
- Third degree
When does burn contraction occur?
Contracture occurs when muscles, tendons, joints tighten causing a deformity. Symptoms of contraction include pain and loss of movement of the joint. If it happens do not hesitate to consult a doctor. Contractures are common aftermath for burns. Burn contractions restrict motion and produce persistent wounds. This leads to degeneration of the nerves as well. Proper planning and tissue selecting. The principle of burn reconstructive surgery includes defects that should be replaced with donor tissues. Matching texture and color are major criteria keeping skin grafting in mind.
Why is Skin Grafting applied?
Flap surgeries meet the criteria to replace the scar tissue and thus resurface the post scar defect. Despite the benefits, the use of flap surgeries is often limited in burn patients. Burn scar contractions are severely disfiguring, painful and, itching. The most powerful treatment option is a surgical procedure. The defect has to be replaced with donor tissue with matching color, texture, and flexibility. Skin flaps include free flaps which meet the criteria, to replace the scar tissue and repair the resulting defect post release of the patient. Balancing the scar resurfacing and minimizing donor site morbidity is a major problem, depending on the size of the area involved, region of involvement, and availability of non scarred tissue as skin flaps. Skin grafting is the easiest form of treating burn contracture.
How long is the Period of treatment?
The degree of burn decides the period of treatment. At low concentrations growth factors have a profound impact on the wound microenvironment. Growth factors are classified into different families based on their characteristics. The most relevant growth factor is the epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor.
What is post-operative treatment?
It is best to maintain proper hygiene and care once the treatment is over to avoid bacterial infection in the affected area of your body.