636 Subcutaneous Contracture Band Release in Burn Scars

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Contracture scars post-burn injury often develop in areas near joints and can restrict movement as well as cause cosmetic deformities.1,2 The goal of subcutaneous scar release is to maximize mobility and minimize the need for invasive procedures which can require more recovery time and cause less aesthetically pleasing outcomes, although this new minimally invasive technique may also be used in conjunction with invasive procedures or after more invasive reconstructions to yield the best functional and cosmetic outcome. Methods Retrospective data from May 2016 to July 2019 were collected and analyzed for 28 patients ranging from ages 6 to 68 years old that were diagnosed with a subcutaneous contracture in one or more areas of their body. The data recorded included demographics, procedure specifics and outcomes, patients’ assessments, and areas of which the procedure was most frequently done on. Results Of the data available, range of motion per site improved by 19.1 degrees. Average pain scores reported directly after the procedure were relatively low at 1.5 on a 10-point scale. Vancouver Scar Scale scores decreased by 0.6 from pre-operatively (10.7) to post-operatively (10.1). The most frequently occurring areas that subcutaneous scar release was done on was the neck (15), axilla (7), and shoulder (7). Overall, 83% of patients reported being very satisfied or satisfied with the outcome of their procedure. Conclusions Subcutaneous scar release improves burn patients’ range of mobility with less residual scarring and less recovery time than standard of care treatments for scar contractures.