Re: Surveyors, help more advice needed, re contractures & Section G

[Holly Sox, RN, RAC-C]

Hey, Kathy, Go to the instructions for completing the 672 and the 802. For the purposes of survey, essentially any limitation in range of motion is considered a contracture.  At my previous facility, we classified as mild/moderate/severe. A mild contracture meant there was limited active range, but full passive range of motion.  Moderate contracture was limited active and passive, but with some flexibility present. A severe contracture would be what you were thinking of, requiring surgery to release.   Hope this helps.   Holly F. Sox, RN, RAC-C  Clinical Edtor, Careplans.com www.careplans.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: Kathy Archibald To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 7:53 PM Subject: Surveyors, help more advice needed, re contractures & Section G Can someone direct me to generally accepted definition for contractures.  I always thought contractures were irreversible except by surgery.  If we can assist a resident to open his hand, even though the resident can not do it voluntarily due to CVA, I would not have said the resident has a contracture, however the surveyor says no, it is a contracture if the resident can not do it himself.  I understand it is a functional limitation, but not a contracture, or am I splitting hairs???? HELP!