Skin contracture
Skin contracture
A permanent tightening of the skin that prevents normal movement of the associated body part and that can cause permanent deformity. 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.
Mentioned in: Lymphedema
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.