OBJECTIVE: Despite rising prevalence rates, no standard tool is available to identify individuals at risk of developing contractures. This study aimed to gain expert consensus on items for the development of the Observational Risk Assessment Tool for Contractures: Longitudinal Evaluation (ORACLE) for care home residents.
METHODS: A two-round, online modified Delphi study.
METHODS: Panellists were qualified healthcare professionals with a background in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing, and rehabilitation medicine.
METHODS: In the first round, the experts were asked to rate the predesigned list of items on a Likert scale while in the second round, consensus was sought in the areas of disagreement identified in the previous round.
RESULTS: The two rounds of the Delphi survey included 30 and 25 panellists, respectively. The average clinical and academic experience of the panellists was 22.2 years and 10.5 years, respectively. The panel demonstrated a high level of consensus regarding the clinical factors (10 out of 15 items); preventive care approaches (9 out of 10 items), and contextual factors (12 out of 13 items) ranging from 70% to 100%.
CONCLUSIONS: This Delphi study determined expert consensus on items to be included in a contracture risk assessment tool (ORACLE). The items were related to factors associated with joint contractures, appropriate preventive care interventions, and potentially relevant contextual factors associated with care home settings. The promise of a risk assessment tool that includes these items has the capacity to reduce the risk of contracture development or progression and to trigger timely and appropriate referrals to help prevent further loss of function and independence.

Breast implants are the most commonly used medical devices in plastic surgery, and capsular contracture (CC) is one of the most common complications. However, our assessment of CC is based largely on Baker grade, which is problematically subjective and affords only four possible values.
The authors performed a systematic review concluding in September of 2021 in compliance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. It identified 19 articles that propose approaches to measuring CC.
In addition to Baker grade, the authors identified several modalities reported to measure CC. These included magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, sonoelastography, mammacompliance measuring devices, applanation tonometry, histologic evaluation, and serology. Capsule thickness and other measures of CC inconsistently correlated with Baker grade, whereas the presence of synovial metaplasia was consistently associated with Baker grade I and II, but not III and IV capsules.
There remains no particular method to reliably and specifically measure the contracture of capsules that form around breast implants. As such, we would recommend that research investigators use more than one modality to measure CC. Other variables that can impact breast implant stiffness and associated discomfort beyond CC need to be considered when evaluating patient outcomes. Given the value placed on CC outcomes in assessing breast implant safety, and the prevalence of breast implants overall, the need for a more reliable approach to measuring this outcome persists.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) causes blistering and scarring of the hands resulting in contractures fused web spaces and altered function. Surgery is needed to release contractures and web spaces and hand therapy is essential to maintain results, approaches for both differ. WHAT DOES THIS STUDY ADD?: These guidelines aim to provide information on the surgical and conservative therapeutic hand management of children and adults diagnosed with EB. They are based on available evidence and expert consensus to assist hand surgeons and therapists in decision making, planning and treatment. They highlight the importance of a holistic multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach, where patient priorities are paramount.

There is currently intense multidisciplinary interest and a maturing body of literature regarding laser treatments for traumatic scars, but international treatment guidelines and reimbursement schemes have not yet caught up with current knowledge and practice in many centers. The authors intend to highlight the tremendous potential of laser techniques, offer recommendations for safe and efficacious treatment, and promote wider patient access guided by future high-quality research.
An international panel of 26 dermatologists and plastic and reconstructive surgeons from 13 different countries and a variety of practice backgrounds was self-assembled to develop updated consensus recommendations for the laser treatment of traumatic scars. A three-step modified Delphi method took place between March 2018 and March 2019 consisting of two rounds of emailed questionnaires and supplementary face-to-face meetings. The panel members approved the final manuscript via email correspondence, and the threshold for consensus was at least 80% concurrence among the panel members.
The manuscript includes extensive detailed discussion regarding a variety of laser platforms commonly used for traumatic scar management such as vascular lasers and ablative and non-ablative fractional lasers, special considerations such as coding and laser treatments in skin of color, and 25 summary consensus recommendations.
Lasers are a first-line therapy in the management of traumatic scars and contractures, and patients without access to these treatments may not be receiving the best available care after injury. Updated international treatment guidelines and reimbursement schemes, additional high-quality research, and patient access should reflect this status. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The objective of this review was to systematically evaluate the available literature addressing the use of orthoses (splints and casts) with adult and pediatric burn survivors and determine whether practice guidelines could be proposed. This review provides evidence-based recommendations specifically for rehabilitation professionals who are responsible for burn survivor rehabilitation. A summary recommendation was made after the literature was retrieved using a systematic review and critical appraisal by multiple authors. The level of evidence of the literature was determined in accordance with the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine criteria. Due to the low level of evidence in the available literature, only one practice guideline could be recommended: orthotic use should be considered as a treatment choice for improving range of motion or reducing contracture in adults who have sustained a burn injury. To address the rehabilitation-specific gaps found in the literature regarding orthotic use in burn rehabilitation and provide guidance to clinicians, a formal expert consensus exercise was conducted as a final step to the project. The resultant manuscript provides a summary of the literature regarding orthotic use with burn patients, one practice guideline, proposed orthotic terminology and additional practice recommendations based on expert opinion. The limitations in the current literature are also discussed, and suggestions are made for future studies in the area of orthotic use after burn injury.

Intrinsic plus foot deformity has primarily been associated with cerebral palsy and involves spastic contracture of the intrinsic musculature with resultant toe deformities. Digital deformity is caused by a dynamic imbalance between the intrinsic muscles in the foot and extrinsic muscles in the lower leg. Spastic contracture of the toes frequently involves curling under of the lesser digits or contracture of the hallux into valgus or plantarflexion deformity. Patients often present with associated pressure ulcers, deformed toenails, shoe or brace fitting challenges, and pain with ambulation or transfers. Four different patterns of intrinsic plus foot deformity have been observed by the authors that likely relate to the different patterns of muscle involvement. Case examples are provided of the 4 patterns of intrinsic plus foot deformity observed, including global intrinsic plus lesser toe deformity, isolated intrinsic plus lesser toe deformity, intrinsic plus hallux valgus deformity, and intrinsic plus hallux flexus deformity. These case examples are presented to demonstrate each type of deformity and our approach for surgical management according to the contracture pattern. The surgical approach has typically involved tenotomy, capsulotomy, or isolated joint fusion. The main goals of surgical treatment are to relieve pain and reduce pressure points through digital realignment in an effort to decrease the risk of pressure sores and allow more effective bracing to ultimately improve the patient\'s mobility.

OBJECTIVE: Comprehensive hospital-based care for individuals with catatonia relies on preventive approaches to reduce medical morbidity and mortality. Without syndrome-specific guidelines, psychiatrists must draw from measures used for general medical and surgical inpatients. We employ a prototypical case to highlight medical complications of catatonia and review preventive guidelines for implementation in the inpatient setting.
METHODS: Searches of the PubMed and Ovid databases were conducted from September-November 2013 using keywords relevant to 4 medical complications of catatonia: deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism, pressure ulcers, muscle contractures, and nutritional deficiencies. A complementary general web-browser search was performed to help ensure that unpublished guidelines were considered.
METHODS: A search for deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism guidelines yielded 478 articles that were appraised for relevance, and 6 were chosen for review; the pressure ulcer guideline search yielded 5,665 articles, and 5 were chosen; the muscle contractures guideline search yielded 1,481 articles, and 3 were chosen; and the nutritional deficiencies guideline search yielded 16,937 articles, and 4 were chosen.
METHODS: Guidelines were reviewed for content and summarized in a manner relevant to the audience. No quantitative analyses were conducted.
RESULTS: Guidelines for deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism prophylaxis support use of anticoagulant therapies for patients with catatonia who are at lower risk for acute bleeding. Pressure ulcer prevention hinges on frequent skin evaluation, use of support surfaces, and repositioning. Muscle contracture data are less clear and must be extrapolated from studies of patients with neurologic injuries. Early initiation of enteral nutrition should be considered in patients with prolonged immobility.
CONCLUSIONS: As medical complications are common with catatonia, implementation of preventive measures is imperative.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological inflammatory demyelinating disease. Specialists involved in the symptomatic treatment of this disease tend to apply heterogeneous diagnostic and treatment criteria.
OBJECTIVE: To establish homogeneous criteria for treating spasticity based on available scientific knowledge, facilitating decision-making in regular clinical practice.
METHODS: A group of multiple sclerosis specialists from the Spanish Neurological Society demyelinating diseases working group met to review aspects related to spasticity in this disease and draw up the consensus. After an exhaustive bibliographic search and following a metaplan technique, a number of preliminary recommendations were established to incorporate into the document. Finally, each argument was classified depending on the degree of recommendation according to the SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) system. The resulting text was submitted for review by the demyelinating disease group. An experts\' consensus was reached regarding spasticity triggering factors, related symptoms, diagnostic criteria, assessment methods, quality of life and therapeutic management (drug and non-drug) criteria.
CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations included in this consensus can be a useful tool for improving the quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients, as they enable improved diagnosis and treatment of spasticity.
Documento de consenso sobre la espasticidad en pacientes con esclerosis multiple.
Introduccion. La esclerosis multiple es una enfermedad neurologica cronica, desmielinizante e inflamatoria. Los neurologos implicados en el tratamiento sintomatico de esta enfermedad tienden a aplicar criterios diagnosticos y de tratamiento heterogeneos. Objetivo. Elaborar un documento de consenso para establecer criterios homogeneos para el tratamiento de la espasticidad, basados en el conocimiento cientifico disponible que faciliten la toma de decisiones en la practica clinica habitual. Desarrollo. Un grupo de expertos españoles en esclerosis multiple del Grupo de Enfermedades Desmielinizantes de la Sociedad Española de Neurologia (SEN) se reunieron para revisar los aspectos relacionados con la espasticidad en esta enfermedad y elaborar el consenso. Tras una busqueda bibliografica exhaustiva y siguiendo la metodologia metaplan se establecieron unas recomendaciones preliminares para incorporar al documento. Finalmente, cada argumento se clasifico segun su grado de recomendacion, atendiendo a las categorias del sistema SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network). El texto resultante fue sometido a la revision de los miembros del Grupo de Enfermedades Desmielinizantes de la SEN. Se ha alcanzado un consenso de expertos respecto a los factores desencadenantes de la espasticidad, la sintomatologia relacionada, los criterios diagnosticos, los metodos de valoracion de la espasticidad, la calidad de vida y los criterios en el manejo terapeutico (farmacologicos y no farmacologicos). Conclusion. Las recomendaciones contenidas en este consenso pueden ser una herramienta util para el neurologo para la practica clinica del dia a dia y para mejorar la calidad de vida del paciente, ya que permiten un mejor diagnostico y tratamiento de la espasticidad.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the rate of prenatal detection of multiple congenital contractures, to identify reasons for the failure of prenatal diagnosis and to propose the first guidelines to improve prenatal diagnosis.
METHODS: We evaluated records on 107 individuals recognized at birth to have Amyoplasia. We reviewed the literature on the onset and development of fetal activity, antenatal clinical signs in fetal movement disorders, prenatal studies of fetal movement and contractures by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and existing guidelines.
RESULTS: In 73.8%, the diagnosis was missed prenatally. Correct diagnosis was achieved by the identification of bilateral clubfeet on ultrasound or because mothers perceived reduced fetal movement. Ultrasound would be able to visualize contractures, joint positioning, the quality of fetal movements, lung size, muscle tissue, and bone growth in the first or early second trimester. MRI results are promising. Guidelines for assessing early fetal movement do not exist.
CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal detection rate of multiple congenital contractures is appalling. Failure of diagnosis precludes further etiologic and diagnostic workup and deprives families of making informed pregnancy choices. Standards for prenatal diagnosis are lacking, but on the basis of current knowledge and expert opinion, we propose the first guidelines for a prenatal diagnostic strategy, discuss future directions and the need for multicentric studies.

Major hand injuries have become a rarity in Western countries. The fact that there are well trained teams devoted to their management, should not obscure the fact that the first emergency surgeon has the major role of setting the foundations for a reconstruction. Understanding the goal to be sought: the \'acceptable hand\' (one with three fingers, with near normal length, near normal sensation and a functioning thumb), is hoped to be of great help in primary care. Preservation of vital structures such as joints, flexor tendons, and vessels, in the initial debridement, which will help to build this \'acceptable hand\' are discussed. The general guidelines for management of finger amputation and soft tissue problems are also given.