Serial casting of the lower extremity to correct contractures during the acute phase of burn care. 1995

J Johnson, and R Silverberg
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY 10021.

Severe contractures that develop early following a burn may not improve with splinting and exercise treatment. An alternative treatment is serial casting, which has been used to promote increased range of motion, to facilitate patient compliance with positioning, and to prevent the patient from scratching the burned area. This case report describes the use of serial casting for resolution of ankle plantar-flexion contractures that occurred in the acute phase of burn injury. The child described in this case report sustained a 49% total body surface area scald burn and developed contractures within 1 week after injury. The contractures, which were not corrected with thermoplastic splints, improved with casting from 45 degrees of plantar flexion to neutral dorsiflexion over 2 months with biweekly cast changes. The patient had multiple skin grafts and progressed in functional activities. Serial casting is a conservative and effective modality in correcting contractures resulting from burns. Further documentation of the efficacy of this treatment approach is necessary to support its use in burn care throughout various stages of healing.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D002056 Burns Injuries to tissues caused by contact with heat, steam, chemicals (BURNS, CHEMICAL), electricity (BURNS, ELECTRIC), or the like. Burn
D002370 Casts, Surgical Dressings made of fiberglass, plastic, or bandage impregnated with plaster of paris used for immobilization of various parts of the body in cases of fractures, dislocations, and infected wounds. In comparison with plaster casts, casts made of fiberglass or plastic are lightweight, radiolucent, able to withstand moisture, and less rigid. Fiberglass Casts,Plaster Casts,Plastic Casts,Cast, Surgical,Surgical Cast,Surgical Casts,Cast, Fiberglass,Cast, Plaster,Cast, Plastic,Casts, Fiberglass,Casts, Plaster,Casts, Plastic,Fiberglass Cast,Plaster Cast,Plastic Cast
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003286 Contracture Prolonged shortening of the muscle or other soft tissue around a joint, preventing movement of the joint. Contractures
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000208 Acute Disease Disease having a short and relatively severe course. Acute Diseases,Disease, Acute,Diseases, Acute
D000842 Ankle The region of the lower limb between the FOOT and the LEG. Tarsus,Regio tarsalis,Ankles
D014945 Wound Healing Restoration of integrity to traumatized tissue. Healing, Wound,Healings, Wound,Wound Healings
D016059 Range of Motion, Articular The distance and direction to which a bone joint can be extended. Range of motion is a function of the condition of the joints, muscles, and connective tissues involved. Joint flexibility can be improved through appropriate MUSCLE STRETCHING EXERCISES. Passive Range of Motion,Joint Flexibility,Joint Range of Motion,Range of Motion,Flexibility, Joint

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