Burn Contracture in Children: Case Series and Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: Contracture after a burn injury is the most common complication that might happen. The child’s healing process is faster than that of adults, causing a faster development of contracture unless the joint is directly injured. In developing country such as Indonesia, it is harder for children with burn injuries receive acute burn care, resulting a debilitation joint and soft tissue contracture. Case Series: We presents six case series of burn contracture in children with various clinical appearance and predilection. The challanges of burn injury in children especially in this case series is the knowledge of parent in urban area such as nutritional status, believing in traditional methods, timing to ask for help, and the parental concern. Many challenges we found when we discussion with parents. Discussion: Along with the technology and knowledge development, there is various way to overcome contractures. Some of them such as, doing incisions in parallel to relaxed skin tension lines also can minimize the chance of contracture. In other hand, if contracture already happen, reconstructure procedure should be done. Apart from the impact of the injury and its treatment, parents’ reaction and responses to the traumatic event have been shown significantly to influence the child’s functioning, wellbeing and phycological recovery. Conclussion: Preventive procedure in contracture may leading to decrease huge costs of care and significant physical, psychological, and economic reactions on the burned survivor and their families. Without having to face effects of these contractures, excellent education and regular patient monitoring can provide positive results.