Experience with the seven flap-plasty for the release of burns contractures

Eighteen patients with burns contracture to the knee 7 (34%), elbow 5 (28%), perineum 4 (22%), and axilla 2 (11%), were treated at our unit between February 1998 to October 2001 using the seven flap-plasty. We chose this method because of its suitability for such contractures, which take the form of a web rather than a straight or linear pattern. Because it involves no donor area, that is no donor site morbidity and therefore less chance for longer hospital stay. The majority of these patients were children 11 (61%). Ten were females (56%) and 8 (44%) were males. Age of patients ranged between 2 and 35 years. The results of the procedure were satisfactory in all patients with good functional recovery of the affected sites.