ABSTRACT
Contractures of muscles can be either congenital or acquired. Congenital contractures of muscles are seen in arthrogryposis and in association with certain congenital anomalies such as congenital dislocation of the knee, congenital dislocation of the patella, congenital clubfoot and congenital vertical talus. The functional disability due to limitation of joint movement will vary according to the joint involved, the muscle involved and the functional requirements of the patient. Ischaemic contracture of the muscles of the forearm may follow compartment syndrome. The severity of contracture is directly related to adequacy and the timing of fascial decompression following the onset of the compartment syndrome. Contracture of the flexor muscles produces the characteristic tenodesis sign where the flexion deformity of the fingers is partially or completely corrected when the wrist is flexed while the deformity is accentuated when the wrist is extended.
