ischemic contracture

contracture /con·trac·ture/ (-cher) abnormal shortening of muscle tissue, rendering the muscle highly resistant to passive stretching.

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Dupuytren's contracture  flexion deformity of the fingers or toes, due to shortening, thickening, and fibrosis of the palmar or plantar fascia.

ischemic contracture  muscular contracture and degeneration due to interference with the circulation from pressure, or from injury or cold.

organic contracture  permanent and continuous contracture.

Volkmann's contracture  contraction of the fingers and sometimes of the wrist, or of analogous parts of the foot, with loss of power, after severe injury or improper use of a tourniquet.

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ischemic contracture.

See Volkmann's contracture.

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contracture [kon-trak´cher]

abnormal shortening of muscle tissue, rendering the muscle highly resistant to stretching; this can lead to permanent disability. It can be caused by fibrosis of the tissues supporting the muscle or the joint, or by disorders of the muscle fibers themselves.

Improper support and positioning of joints affected by arthritis or injury, and inadequate exercising of joints in patients with paralysis can result in contractures. For example, a patient with arthritis or severe burns may assume the most comfortable position and will resist changing position because motion is painful. If the joints are allowed to remain in this position, the muscle fibers that normally provide motion will stretch or shorten to accommodate the position and eventually will lose their ability to contract and relax.

In many cases contractures can be prevented by range of motion exercises (active or passive), and by adequate support of the joints to eliminate constant shortening or stretching of the muscles and surrounding tissues.

Dupuytren's contracture a flexion deformity of the fingers or toes, due to shortening, thickening, and fibrosis of the palmar or plantar fascia.

ischemic contracture muscular contracture and degeneration due to interference with the circulation due to pressure or to injury or cold.

Volkmann's contracture contraction of the fingers and sometimes of the wrist, or of analogous parts of the foot, with loss of power, after severe injury or improper use of a tourniquet or cast in the region of the elbow.

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ischemic contracture

Volkmann's contracture, see there