Management of Severe Extended Burn Axillary Contracture in a Low-resource Setting

Abstract

Contracture is a common complication of deep burn injury, affecting up to one-third of patients. Although some degree of contracture occurs in any setting, severe extended axillary contractures are more often due to unavailable or inappropriate care. Very few cases have been described in the literature. Their management can be especially challenging in a low-resource environment. The purpose of this article is to present two cases in which severe postburn axillary contractures were effectively managed in a low resource setting, using an island perforator flap coupled with a skin graft or advancement flap. In severe extended axillary contracture, more than one technique is often required to cover the large defect created after contracture release.