%0 Journal Article
%A Iheanyi Ihunanya Anokwute
%A C. Ozor
%A M.C. Odiakosa
%A O. Nwachukwu
%T Endotracheal intubation in severe post-burn mentosternal contracture:  An anesthetist’s challenge: A case report
%J Journal of Scientific Innovations in Anesthesiology
%D 2026
%V 1
%N 3
%P 90-94
%R 10.65929/JSIA.2026.1.3.006
%X Background: Post-burn mentosternal contracture presents major challenges during airway management due to restricted mouth opening, distorted cervical anatomy, trachael deviation and limited neck mobility in reconstructive surgery.Case Presentation: A 19-year-old male with severe type 3b mentosternal contracture following extensive flame burns, who required reconstructive surgery. A planned strategy involving facemask ventilation, contracture release under sedation and local anesthesia, and subsequent videolaryngoscopic intubation was employed. Following release, neck extension and mouth opening improved, allowing successful bougie-assisted intubation despite significant anatomical distortion. Intra-operative and post-operative periods were uneventful.Conclusion: This highlights the need for individualized airway strategies in severe post-burn neck contractures, supporting contracture release prior to intubation where conventional or fibreoptic techniques may be impractical.
%U https://jsiajournal.org/volume/1/issue/3/article/endotracheal-intubation-in-severe-post-burn-mentosternal-contracture-an-anesthetists-challenge-a-case-report