Severe contractures of the elbow which require lengthening of the biceps tendon, neurolysis, and division of the joint capsule also demand skin-flap coverage in the antecubital space. Two examples of burn contractures corrected by the application of tube pedicle are reported. In the first, the joint capsule had to be opened radically, but a single width of tube pedicle was sufficient and the functional result was excellent. This case served as a precursor to the development of a method of tube pedicle Z-plasty which was successful in the correction of a second more severe contracture. This method of skin coverage for the correction of severe elbow contractures may have application to other joints as well.