title: External tissue stretching for closing skin defects in 22 patients.
abstract: In this prospective study, we treated 12 women and 10 men with a newly developed skin-stretching system. The stretching device was used for the closure of 9 fasciotomies and for preoperative skin extension before excision of 6 tattooes, 7 splitskin transplants, 4 giant naevi, and 3 scars. The stretching device was placed under the skin, using local anesthesia. The patient stretched the skin. The mean stretching time was 4 (2-11) days. 20 patients completed the expansion successfully, with no pain or only slight discomfort. In 2 cases, we observed minor complications during the expansion. The external skin-stretching system can be used to obtain primary closure of defects where splitskin transplants otherwise would be necessary. The method can be applied in out-patients, using local anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bjarnesen
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Wester
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Siemssen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009506:Nevus / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013653:Tattooing; D013997:Time Factors; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods*