Management of traumatic cutaneous defects by using a skin-stretching device.

We report on nine orthopedic patients who underwent skin stretching to close 10 acute soft-tissue defects. The skin surrounding all wounds was stretched sufficiently to enable a primary closure. At an average of 9 weeks postoperatively, 9 of the 10 wounds healed without any complications. One wound dehisced postoperatively, but subsequently healed by secondary intention. The skin-stretching device eliminated the need for local or distant flap reconstruction in five skin defects and skin grafting in five wounds. Donor morbidity was avoided, the cosmetic appearance of the skin was maintained, and the in-hospital course of these patients was shortened.