[Experimental study on closing the firearm injured soft tissue defect by skin stretch].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the availability and effect of skin stretch in closing the firearm injured soft tissue defect.


METHODS
Eight white pigs with firearm injured soft tissue defect were divided into 3 groups. Each group I and group II had 3 pigs which were performed skin stretch. The control group had 2 pigs without stretch. The average diameter of the defect in three groups was (7.3 +/- 0.2) cm, (9.1 +/- 0.3) cm, (7.3 +/- 0.2) cm respectively, and the site of defect was on the lateral thigh and buttock.


RESULTS
Skin stretch could make a visible reduction of the wound. It was possible to close the wound by direct traction when the diameter of the buttock wound was less than 7 cm, and when the diameter of the lateral thigh wound was less than the radius of thigh. The skin stretch should not last more than 7 days and the best effect appeared in 4 to 5 days after performing the skin stretch.


CONCLUSIONS
The skin stretch can be applied in the repair of the firearm injured soft tissue defect. It has many advantage compared with the tradtional treatment.
Sun
Z G
ZG
Plastic Surgery Center, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an Shanxi, P. R. China 710032.
Guo
S Z
SZ
Lu
K H
KH
D000818:Animals; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries; D013552:Swine; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery*