title: Prognosis of full-thickness skin defects in premature infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the extremities of premature infants, the skin and subcutaneous tissue are very pliable due to immaturity and have a greater degree of skin laxity and mobility. Thus, we can expect wounds to heal rapidly by wound contraction. This study investigates wound healing of full-thickness defects in premature infant extremities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of 13 premature infants who had a total of 14 cases of full-thickness skin defects of the extremities due to extravasation after total parenteral nutrition. The wound was managed with intensive moist dressings with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory agents. After wound closure, moisturization and mild compression were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the full-thickness defects in the premature infants were closed by wound contraction without granulation tissue formation on the wound bed. The defects resulted in 3 pinpoint scars, 9 linear scars, and 2 round hypertrophic scars. The wounds with less granulation tissue were healed by contraction and resulted in linear scars parallel to the relaxed skin tension line. The wounds with more granulation tissue resulted in round scars. There was mild contracture without functional abnormality in 3 cases with a defect over two thirds of the longitudinal length of the dorsum of the hand or foot. The patients' parents were satisfied with the outcomes in 12 of 14 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Full-thickness skin defects in premature infants typically heal by wound contraction with minimal granulation tissue and scar formation probably due to excellent skin mobility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Jin Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Burm
authors.forename: Won Yong
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Sang Yoon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kang
keywords: Cicatrix; Premature infants; Skin defects; Wound healing