Dermatotraction: A Retrospective Study on its Effectiveness in the Closure of Soft Tissue Leg Defects
Main Article Content
Abstract
Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive, longitudinal study carried out in the period between 2012 and 2019. The inclusion criteria for this study were: 1) wounds with a soft-tissue coverage deficit in the leg of diverse traumatic etiology (surgical wound dehiscence, fasciotomies due to compartment syndrome, open fractures, and open wounds with soft tissue deficit).
Results: 36 patients (mean age: 28 years) with injuries with loss of coverage in different regions of the leg were analyzed. Closure was achieved in 27 patients (75%), without the need for additional procedures. In three patients (8.3%), the exposed area was reduced, requiring skin grafting as a complementary procedure. Six patients required myocutaneous and fasciocutaneous soft tissue reconstructive procedures.
Conclusions: This technique is effective, simple, and economical for closing complex wounds and/or fasciotomies. Dermatotraction allows closure a few days after the trauma.
Downloads
Metrics
Article Details
Manuscript acceptance by the Journal implies the simultaneous non-submission to any other journal or publishing house. The RAAOT is under the Licencia Creative Commnos Atribución-NoComercial-Compartir Obras Derivadas Igual 4.0 Internacional (CC-BY-NC.SA 4.0) (http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.es). Articles can be shared, copied, distributed, modified, altered, transformed into a derivative work, executed and publicly communicated, provided a) the authors and the original publication (Journal, Publisher and URL) are mentioned, b) they are not used for commercial purposes, c) the same terms of the license are maintained.
In the event that the manuscript is approved for its next publication, the authors retain the copyright and will assign to the journal the rights of publication, edition, reproduction, distribution, exhibition and communication at a national and international level in the different databases. data, repositories and portals.
It is hereby stated that the mentioned manuscript has not been published and that it is not being printed in any other national or foreign journal.
The authors hereby accept the necessary modifications, suggested by the reviewers, in order to adapt the manuscript to the style and publication rules of this Journal.
References
2. Turgut G, Ozcan A, Sümer O, Yeşiloğlu N, Baş L. Reconstruction of complicated scalp defect via skin traction. J Craniofac Surg 2009;20(1):263-4. https://doi.org/10.1097/SCS.0b013e3181843766
3. Saulis AS, Lautenschlager EP, Mustoe TA. Biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of skin, SMAS, and composite flaps as they pertain to rhytidectomy. Plast Reconstr Surg 2002;110(2):590-8; discussion 599-600. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006534-200208000-00035
4. Wilhelmi BJ, Blackwell SJ, Mancoll JS, Phillips LG. Creep vs stretch: a review of the viscoelastic properties of skin. Ann Plast Surg 1998;41(2):215-9. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000637-199808000-00019
5. Parrett BM, Matros E, Pribaz JJ, Orgill DP. Lower extremity trauma: trends in the management of soft-tissue reconstruction of open tibia–fibula fractures. Plast Reconstr Surg 2006;117(4):1315-22. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.prs.0000204959.18136.36
6. Melis P, Bos KE, Horenblas S. Primary skin closure of a large groin defect after inguinal lymphadenectomy for penile cancer using a skin stretching device. J Urol 1998;159(1):185-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-5347(01)64052-7
7. Wiger P, Blomqvist G, Styf J. Wound closure by dermatotraction after fasciotomy for acute compartment syndrome. Scand J Plast Reconstr Hand Surg 2000;34(4):315-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/028443100750059084
8. Yamamoto N, Kiyosawa T, Arai K, Nakayama Y. Dermal neoformation during skin wound healing as demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy. Ann Plast Surg 2004;52(4):398-406. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.sap.0000106982.98568.92
9. Ismavel R, Samuel S, Boopalan PRJVC, Chittaranjan SB. Simple solution for wound coverage by skin stretching. J Orthop Trauma 2011;25(3):127-32. https://doi.org/10.1097/BOT.0b013e318206f556
10. Bjarnesen JP, Wester JU, Siemssen SS, Jensen NK. External tissue stretching for closing skin defects in 22 patients. Acta Orthop Scand 1996;67(2):182-4. https://doi.org/10.3109/17453679608994668
11. Hirshowitz B, Lindenbaum E, Har-Shai Y. A skin-stretching device for the harnessing of the viscoelastic properties of skin. Plast Reconstr Surg 1993;92(2):260-70. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006534-199308000-00010
12. Hijjawi HB, Bishop AT. Management of simple wounds: local flaps, Z-plasty, and skin grafts. En: Moran SL, Cooney WP (eds). Master techniques in orthopaedic surgery: Soft tissue surgery. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009:37-47.