title: A simple solution for wound coverage by skin stretching.
abstract: Viscoelastic properties of skin, ie, creep and stress relaxation, allow it to stretch beyond its normal state within a short period of time. Presented here is a technique of "wound coverage by skin stretching" that uses this principle. Kirschner wires were passed through the skin edges on either side of the wound margins. Dynamic traction was applied with traction bands improvised by the surgeon from surgical glove wrist rings. We used this method in eight patients to close 10 wounds that were not feasible to close with direct methods. We have found that this simple, economic, and effective method provides rapid functional wound closure when bone and other structures are exposed. It does not require specialized training or devices. Careful attention to the described surgical technique gives good results and few complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Unit III, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India.
authors.forename: Ravichand
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ismavel
authors.forename: Sumant
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: P R J V C
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Boopalan
authors.forename: Samuel B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Chittaranjan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods*; D014143:Traction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult