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Recurrence of Extremity Joint Contracture After Z-Plasty Versus Full-Thickness Skin Graft
Sponsor: Universitas Sebelas Maret
Summary
The purpose of this study is to compare how often joint contractures in the arms and legs come back after two common types of reconstructive surgery: Z-plasty and full-thickness skin graft (FTSG). A joint contracture is a tightening of scar tissue, most often after a deep burn, that limits how far a joint can move. Surgery can release the tight scar, but the contracture may return over time. Z-plasty rearranges nearby skin to lengthen the scar, while FTSG covers the released area with full-thickness skin taken from another part of the body. Previous studies have shown conflicting results about which technique has a lower risk of the contracture returning. This study will review the medical records of patients who had contracture release surgery of the shoulder, elbow, wrist/hand, hip, knee, or ankle at Dr. Moewardi General Hospital, Surakarta, Indonesia, between 2016 and 2026. No new treatment or procedure will be given to patients, and all patient information will be kept anonymous. The study hypothesis is that the rate of contracture recurrence differs between patients treated with Z-plasty and those treated with FTSG. The results may help surgeons choose the most suitable technique to reduce the risk of recurrence and improve patients' movement and quality of life.
Official title: Comparative Analysis of Joint Contracture Recurrence in the Extremities After Excision With Z-Plasty Versus Full-Thickness Skin Graft (FTSG) : A Retrospective Cohort Study
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
Any - Any
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
300
Start Date
2026-10-13
Completion Date
2027-01-31
Last Updated
2026-10-21
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Z-Plasty
Surgical release of extremity joint contracture using Z-plasty as the sole closure technique. After incision/excision of the contracted scar band, two opposing triangular local flaps are transposed to lengthen the scar axis and reorient the scar along relaxed skin tension lines, without the need for donor-site tissue. Performed as part of routine clinical care; not assigned by the study.
Full-Thickness Skin Graft
Surgical release of extremity joint contracture by excision of the contracted scar, followed by coverage of the resulting defect with a full-thickness skin graft (epidermis and entire dermis) harvested from a donor site, used as the sole closure technique without combined local flap transposition. Performed as part of routine clinical care; not assigned by the study.