Post burn neck contracture: an algorithm for choosing the ideal surgical method of management

ABSTRACT

Background: The aim of the study is to facilitate choosing the surgical technique that will be suitable for improving both function and aesthetics of each patient through this suggested algorithm system.  Any post burn neck contracture usually causes severe impairment of function and aesthetics, which causes serous psychological and social problems. That’s why it is very important to sub-categorize this type of deformity by anatomical location and cause of burn to allow choosing the ideal method of surgical management.Methods: This is a prospective study which was performed in Plastic Surgery Department, Menoufia University Hospitals over the period from March 2017 to March 2019. The study included 30 patients suffering post burn neck contracture deformities.Results: Patients were carefully examined, and the post burn neck deformities were analyzed according to age, condition of skin at the contracture site, the range of sternomastoid muscles movement at both sides of the neck and patient's general condition. Patients were given scores and categorized into 4 grades. And according to each patient's grade, the suitable surgical technique was chosen and fulfilled. 25 patients showed great satisfaction to their post operative’s outcomes and the rest were poorly satisfied.Conclusions: Application of patients with post burn neck contractures to this algorithm system will make it easy to choose the ideal method of management and gain the best surgical results possible when performing surgical correction.