Postburn contracture of the neck--our experience with a new dynamic extension splint

Twenty-eight examples of postburn contracture of the neck managed during the last 5 years gave us a better understanding of the problems of anaesthesia, contracture release, skin grafting, splintage and maintenance of the fully release state. The severe contracture should be incised before intubation under a local anaesthetic agent. The release should include the adjoining contractures of mandibular and pectoral regions lest the skin graft is pulled by the existing contracture. Haemostasis should be meticulously secured to avoid graft loss. Splintage should be a static splint for 4-6 weeks followed by a dynamic splint until the applied graft becomes soft, supple and wrinkle free. Ideally, however, contractures should be prevented by nursing the patient with a neck extension in the acute phase and wearing a cervical collar during the subacute phase of wound healing.