[Uni-axial tissular extension for covering skin defects of the limbs. A 31 cases review].
BACKGROUND
The skin property to adapt to external constraints is widely used in plastic surgery. Tissue expansion is the most known and codified application. Tissue extension appears to be an attractive alternative. The authors propose the usage of a simplified procedure to deal with skin loss in the superior or inferior members.


METHODS
Thirty-one patients underwent uni-axial traction between February 2000 and October 2003.


RESULTS
Closure of skin loss on the upper member has been obtained in 6 days and in 8 days on the inferior member.


CONCLUSIONS
Efficiency, reliability and no subsequent aftermaths are strong arguments in favor of the development of a simplified extension procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
The tissue extension procedure, although scarcely used is an attractive procedure for the coverage of skin losses.
Monnier
J
J
Service de chirurgie maxillofaciale et plastique, hôpital central, CHU de Nancy, avenue du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, CO no 34, 54035 Nancy cedex, France. monnier.jerome@free.fr
Simon
E
E
Duroure
F
F
Chassagne
J-F
JF
Stricker
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005121:Extremities / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*