Dienst van SURF
© 2025 SURF
BACKGROUND: Scar contracture is a well-known sequela of burns that is specifically relevant as it may limit function. Reports regarding the course of scar contractures, however, are scarce and, moreover, not focussed on function. This study describes the course of prevalence of scar contractures that limit function in children and adolescents after burns.METHOD: Range of motion (ROM) of extremity joints of 20 children and adolescents after burns were assessed at discharge (T0) and at six weeks (T1), three months (T2), and six months (T3) after discharge. A scar contracture limiting function was defined as a measured ROM lower than the functional ROM, i.e., ROM used to perform daily activities by unimpaired subjects.RESULTS: At discharge (T0), 89.5% of the subjects had one or more scar contractures that limited function. Six months later (T3), this prevalence was 76.5%. At discharge (T0), less function limiting scar contractures were found for the upper extremity (29.7%) than the lower extremity (53.3%). Over time, prevalence of contractures in both extremities fluctuated between 22% and 35%.CONCLUSIONS: The majority of children and adolescents (13/17) still had scar contractures limiting function six months after discharge (T3). Substantial longitudinal studies over a longer period of time are needed to increase our knowledge on the course of these scar contractures in order to support improvements in burn care.TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is approved by the Regional Committee for Patient-Oriented Research Leeuwarden in the Netherlands (NL45917.099.13).
Scar contractures are a common complication after burn injuries. These contractures are characterized by impairment of joint mobility, leading to a risk for limitations during daily activities, and restrictions in participation in society. Qualifying its severity is not well established in burn care. This study, therefore, examined different approaches to determine the severity of limited mobility in the knee joint due to scar contracture.To determine the severity of burn scar contractures development of the knee over time, the following approaches were analyzed: prevalence, the degree of limitation, the ability to perform basic daily activities, and the need for reconstructive surgery. Range of motion data of the knee joint was extracted from a 12-month prospective multicenter cohort study in the Netherlands.Based on prevalence, mean degree of limitation, and the classification based on mathematical division, limitations in knee flexion would be seen as giving the most problems. On the other hand, when classified in terms of impact on function, limitations in extension were found to be giving most problems, although flexion limitations interfered slightly longer with the basic activities of standing, walking, and climbing stairs.Depending on the chosen approach, the severity of burn scar contractures is projected differently. Interpreting the severity of a burn scar contracture of the knee, preferably should be based on a function-based classification system of the degree of range of motion impairment, activity limitations and participation restrictions in society. Because that does justice to the real impact of burn scar contracture on the individual burn survivor.
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effect of (new) treatments or analyse prevalence and risk factors of contractures, rating scales are used based on joint range of motion. However, cut-off points for levels of severity vary between scales, and it seems unclear how cut-off points relate to function. The purpose of this study was to compare severity ratings of different rating scales for the shoulder and elbow and relate these with functional range of motion.METHODS: Often used contracture severity rating scales in orthopedics, physiotherapy, and burns were included. Functional range of motion angles for the shoulder and elbow were derived from a recent synthesis published by our group. Shoulder flexion and elbow flexion range of motion data of patients three months after a burn injury were rated with each of the scales to illustrate the effects of differences in classifications. Secondly, the shoulder and elbow flexion range of motion angles were related to the required angles to perform over 50 different activities of daily living tasks.RESULTS: Eighteen rating scales were included (shoulder: 6, elbow: 12). Large differences in the number of severity levels and the cut-off points between scales were determined. Rating the measured range of motions with the different scales showed substantial inconsistency in the number of joints without impairment (shoulder: 14-36%, elbow: 26-100%) or with severe impairment (shoulder: < 10%-29%, elbow 0%-17%). Cut-off points of most scales were not related to actual function in daily living.CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need for rating scales that express the severity of contractures in terms of loss of functionality. This study proposes a direction for a solution.