Contractures in rural Uganda

Contractures are a condition where muscles, tendons, or other tissues become permanently shortened due to injury, burns, or prolonged immobility, causing joints to stiffen and limit movement. In rural Uganda, contractures are commonly seen as a result of untreated burn injuries or a lack of immediate medical care following accidents. Many children and adults suffer from fingers, hands, or limbs being fixed in awkward positions, significantly impacting their ability to carry out daily tasks. This can impact anything from their ability to attend school to getting safely out of their bed without supervision.

For many children in Uganda, access to proper medical treatment, including surgery to release contractures, is extremely limited. With a combination of large distances between villages and hospitals, as well as shortages of healthcare facilities and specialised surgeons, many individuals are left living with this debilitating condition.

This affects their ability to work, attend school, or care for their families. Without timely medical intervention, contractures in rural Uganda often lead to lifelong disability, further entrenching poverty in these communities.

We’ve funded several operations for patients who suffered burns and developed a contracture – like Ivan who thanks to surgery have got the full use of their arm back.