Summary
Seventeen severe postburn neck contractures were released under local infiltration
anaesthesia and intravenous ketamine and split skin grafted. This anaesthetic technique
obviates the need for endotracheal intubation which is difficult in such patients.
Anaesthesia was sufficient for the procedure, blood loss was minimal and there was
no graft loss. One patient had emergence phenomenon and there were no other complications
attributable to the procedure.
