FLEXION CONTRACTURE OF THE ELBOW DUE TO I NCREASED MUSCLE TONE OF FLEXOR MUSCLES

Increased muscle tone leads occasionally to fixed flexion and supinati on deformities of the elbow in tetraplegics and subsequently to additi onal restriction of function. The incidence, course, remaining functio ns and therapeutic measures were studied retrospectively in 22 patient s (37 arms). Muscle hypertonus was found to start during the first 12 weeks after spinal cord lesion and to provoke a flexion contracture of 35 to 95 degrees in 40% of the cases despite therapy. Due to the fail ure of physical therapy and operative measures, prophylaxis through th e prevention of shoulder-pain, early use of adequate splinting of the upper extremity and electrical stimulation of the triceps brachii shou ld be carried out.