An extraordinary case of axillary contracture: Trapped healthy skin and its adnexes under contracted scar

Abstract

Although striking improvements have been achieved in overall management of burn injury, postburn contractures are still an ongoing challenge to burn surgeons. Axillary adduction contracture is one of the most common types of these disabling postburn complications that usually result from suboptimal treatment after acute burns. An unusual and complicated case of axillary contracture in which the unburned, healthy axillary dome skin was trapped as a cystic mass under the scarred area was reconstructed by transfer of a big (17 × 13-cm) thoracodorsal artery perforator flap after contracture release. The result was satisfactory in terms of function and acceptable cosmetically. The underlying reasons for the inadequate treatment the patient received after surviving a severe electrical injury were discussed.