[Application of skin and soft tissue distraction technique for defect of skin and soft tissue].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the repair of skin and soft tissue defect by skin and soft tissue distraction tecnique and evaluate clinical results.


METHODS
Twenty-five patients with skin and soft tissue defect were repaired by skin and soft tissue distraction technique including 16 male and 9 female. The age ranged from 8 to 66 years with an average age of 29.3 years. Parallel Kirschner wires were inserted through the defect skin margin at the interval of every 0.5 to 1.5 cm, the Kirschner wire was gradually drawed to the close by thick silk thread or tiny steel-wire, the defect of skin and soft tiuuse was closed from two sides and the wound disappeared.


RESULTS
The wounds of 15 patients were anastomosed dircetly through skin and soft tissue distraction for 20 to 60 minutes, other ten wounds were anastomosed from 3 to 26 days, all healed well. By the follow up from 2 to 26 months, the wound skin looked as line scar, corresponding to the result of common debridement anastomosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Skin and soft tissue distraction tecnique can not replace skin grafting, flap transferring and flap grafting. But it may avoid damage to the supply area and the risk of flap necrosis. Skin and soft tissue distraction tecnique is a good method to repair skin and soft tissue defect.
Chen
Qiang
Q
Department of Orthopaedics, Zhongshan Torch Development District Hospital, Zhongshan 528437, Guangdong, China. chenqiangdr@yahoo.com.cn
Liu
Lie-Bin
LB
Zeng
Xian-Ming
XM
Zhuo
Chun-Fang
CF
Zhao
Jia-An
JA
Qi
Hai-Ru
HR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*