title: Using the Ilizarov external fixation device for skin expansion.
abstract: Addressing war injuries requires tailoring treatment that provides the best functional and aesthetic results within a reasonable period of time. The authors report a young soldier who sustained a gunshot injury that caused an open fracture of the proximal tibia and patella (Gustilo type B-III). A local muscle flap could not be used, and thus the authors decided to use the already applied Ilizarov device for gradual expansion of the wound edge. The expanded skin covered the exposed fracture successfully, and later enabled solid union of the fracture. This reconstructive method seems to be an original solution for the management of open fractures, and additional proof that well-vascularized skin may be equivalent to a muscle flap, and may be considered for selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery A, Rambam Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Hatechnion, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ullmann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Peled
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D018889:Ilizarov Technique; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010329:Patella / Q000293:injuries*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery*