Epidemiology and Predictors for Cervical Burn Scar Contractures: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Abstract

Cervical burn scar contracture (BSC) affects many important neck functions and the patients’ quality of life. However, it remains unclear which patients have a higher risk of neck BSCs. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and identify the independent risks of cervical BSC formation and severity. Clinical and demographic data of 106 patients with burn scars were retrospectively collated and analyzed from 3 different Chinese hospitals between December 2016 and December 2020. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent risks for BSC formation and severity at 12 months postburn. Lateral flexion was the most common plane of motion (POM) limited by contractures (29.4%), whereas the POM most commonly limited by severe contractures was the extension (24.6%). Most patients with contractures had those in 3 to 4 POMs (72.1%). Neck skin grafting was an independent risk factor for BSC formation, and cervical and cervicothoracic skin grafting were independent risk factors for BSC severity. These results may help to identify high-risk patients with contractures in the early stages of burns to carry out individualized early prevention and treatment.