United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I read a thread on serial casting for contractures. How do you determine a contracture and the severity of it? Are all contractures equally treatable? What are the more common methods of treating them?

Not all contractures are equally treatable. Some come with a boney malformation or misalignment.

I would think the most common way to treat a contracture (of the elbow I am assuming) is with a static splint usually made to custom fit the person with thermal plastic. That is a material that you put in hot water and it gets soft and then can be molded to fit and it cools off and gets hard. Then add straps. Another way to treat a newly forming cantracture is to rest the arm holding a weight in the hand with the elbow on the edge of the couch or something. It just needs to rest straight with a stretch.
When a contracture is bad enough, I think that serial casting is used.
Hope that helps,
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN

Hi, Can someone please tell me what a contracture is? How it is diagnosed?
Thank you!

A contracture is a tightening of muscle, tendons, ligaments, or skin that prevents normal movement.
Depending on the cause and type of contracture, diagnostic testing (such as an x-ray) may be necessary.
Causes:
Injury (including burns)
Reduced use (for example, from immobilization)
Damage or degeneration of the nerves
Inherited disorders (such as muscular dystrophy)
Treated using physical therapy, orthopedic braces, or surgery may be helpful for some types of contractures.

The doctor will measure how much extension you have and if you can extend the limb all the way,even passively, if not able to then you most likely have one.

Marieke (32, LOBPI)