title: Our experience with Wisebands: a new skin and soft-tissue stretch device.
abstract: Complex wounds that involve skin and soft-tissue defects that are unsuitable for primary closure by conventional suturing are common in the field of surgery. Among the many surgical options available to overcome these problems are various mechanical devices that have recently been proposed for delayed primary closure of such wounds. The authors present their experience with a new complex wound closure device, Wisebands, a device uniquely designed for skin and soft-tissue stretching. During the last 2 years, the authors have treated 20 patients with 22 skin and soft-tissue wounds for which primary closure was not feasible. The Wisebands devices were applied to the wounds, stretching the skin and underlying soft tissue, gradually closing the defects until the edges were sufficiently approximated for primary closure. Successful wound closure was achieved in 18 patients (90 percent). The Wisebands devices were removed in two patients (10 percent) because of major wound complications. In two other patients (10 percent), minor wound complications had occurred that did not necessitate removal of the device. At a mean follow-up of 1 year (range, 10 months to 2 years), stable scarring with no functional or significant aesthetic deficit was achieved. The authors conclude that the Wisebands device facilitates closure of complex skin and soft-tissue wounds, with low morbidity and complication rates, and can provide the surgeon with another important tool for closing complex wounds. Nevertheless, appropriate patient selection, intraoperative judgment, and close postoperative care are essential to ensure closure and avoid undue complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, affiliated with the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel. barneay@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Barnea
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.forename: Aharon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amir
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leshem
authors.forename: Arik
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaretski
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shafir
authors.forename: Jerry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D004548:Elasticity; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D013537:Sutures; D014945:Wound Healing