MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Contracture deformity

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Contracture deformity

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Considerations	Common Causes Home Care Call your health care provider if What to expect at your health care provider's office

Illustrations

Contracture deformity

Alternative names Return to top

Deformity - contracture

Definition Return to top

A contracture is a fixed tightening of muscle, tendons, ligaments, or skin. It prevents normal movement of the associated body part and can cause permanent deformity.

Considerations Return to top

A contracture develops when the normally elastic connective tissues are replaced by inelastic fibrous tissue. This makes the affected area resistant to stretching and prevents normal movement.

Contractures occur primarily in the skin, underlying tissues, muscle, tendons and joint areas. The most common causes are scarring and lack of use (due to immobilization or inactivity):

Dupuytren's contracture
Claw hand
Foot drop (the foot points downward)
Wrist drop (the wrist cannot be lifted)
Volkmann's contracture
Becker's muscular dystrophy
Cerebral palsy
Duchenne's muscular dystrophy

Common Causes Return to top

Injury (including burns)
Reduced use (for example, from immobilization)
Damage or degeneration of the nerves
Inherited disorders (such as muscular dystrophy)

Home Care Return to top

Home care continues the care that the health care provider prescribes. For example, physical therapy exercises must be continued at home.

Call your health care provider if Return to top

A contracture seems to be developing.
You notice a decreased ability to move a joint.

What to expect at your health care provider's office Return to top

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your tightness or limited movement, such as:

When did it start?
How would you describe it? Where is it located? How bad is it?
How much movement is there?
What other symptoms are also present?

Depending on the cause and type of contracture, diagnostic testing (such as an x-ray) may be necessary.

Physical therapy, orthopedic braces, or surgery may be helpful for some types of contractures.

Update Date: 7/4/2004

Updated by: Andrew L. Chen, M.D., M.S., Steadman-Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation, Vail, CO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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