TY - JOUR
T1 - Course of prevalence of scar contractures limiting function
T2 - a preliminary study in children and adolescents after burns
AU - Oosterwijk, Anouk M.
AU - Mouton, Leonora J.
AU - Stoop, Matthea M.
AU - Akkerman, Moniek
AU - van Baar, Margriet E.
AU - Scholten-Jaegers, Sonja M.H.
AU - van der Schans, Cees P.
AU - Nieuwenhuis, M.K.
N1 - Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.
PY - 2019/12
Y1 - 2019/12
N2 - 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).
AB - 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).
KW - scars
KW - contracture complications
KW - children
KW - burn care
KW - brandwonden
KW - littekens
KW - kinderen
U2 - 10.1016/j.burns.2019.05.003
DO - 10.1016/j.burns.2019.05.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 31676251
SN - 0305-4179
VL - 45
SP - 1810
EP - 1818
JO - Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
JF - Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
IS - 8
ER -