Clinical Research Directory

Recurrence of Extremity Joint Contracture After Z-Plasty Versus Full-Thickness Skin Graft

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.