title: An individualized approach to severe elbow burn contractures.
abstract: Contracture of the antecubital fossa is a common occurrence following thermal burn injury to the upper extremity. Scarring of the superficial tissues can be treated with a variety of surgical methods to provide release and coverage. However, complex scarring of the elbow, which involves the deeper structures, requires a patient-specific technique for which each scarred, shortened, or contracted component is purposefully addressed during the operation. In addition, severe elbow contractures may be complicated by other conditions, such as peripheral neuropathy and heterotopic ossification. This article will discuss the evaluation of the patient with a severe elbow burn contracture and emphasize the importance of an individualized and comprehensive surgical approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, V.
authors.affiliation: Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids, Mich. From the Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Michigan Health Systems; Michigan State University School of Human Medicine; and Grand Rapids Medical Education Program, Department of Orthopedic Surgery.
authors.forename: Theodore A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: Peter J L
authors.initials: PJL
authors.lastname: Jebson
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Cederna
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D000092464:Elbow Injuries