Treatment of elbow contractures in burns

Contractures of the elbow after burn injury are frequent and are often connected with other contractions. Surgical correction must take into consideration the topography, the likelihood of possible heterotopic ossification and the condition of the surrounding skin. A study of 66 contractures allowed us to reach the following conclusions: Linear contractures surrounded by normal skin require IC-type local flaps. Widespread contractures can be treated with thoracic flaps if healthy skin remains or else with the 'backwards flap'. Surgery on existing associated heterotopic ossification must be in two stages starting with the cutaneous step.