Post burn contracture neck: clinical profile and management

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Burn Reconstruction
• Scar Management

Background:

• Post-burn neck contractures present significant morbidity, increasing with survival rates of severely burned patients.
• Assessing clinical presentation, causes, prevention, and treatment of neck contractures is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the varied clinical presentations of post-burn neck contractures.
• To identify precipitating factors and preventive strategies.
• To assess treatment modalities and surgical outcomes for neck contractures.

Main Methods:

• A hospital-based study included 22 patients with post-burn neck contractures undergoing operative treatment (August 2009 - July 2011).
• Surgical interventions included excisional release (13 patients) and incisional release (9 patients).
• Resurfacing utilized split-thickness skin grafts (STSG) in 19 cases and local/regional flaps in 3 patients.

Main Results:

• The majority of patients (10/22) were aged 21-30 years, with a higher incidence in females (17/22).
• Accidental flame burns were the most common cause; 14 patients received treatment within one year for functional disability.
• Hypertrophy and recontracture were the most frequent late complications (3 cases); 19 patients achieved good to fair results.

Conclusions:

• Local flaps are advantageous and should be prioritized for neck contracture release.
• Graft placement in non-visible areas (donor sites or submental region) is recommended.
• Combining flaps and grafts requires strategic placement for optimal aesthetic and functional results.