Effects of intraoperative tissue expansion and skin flaps on wound closing tensions.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect on wound closing tension of acute tissue expansion combined with development of a rectangular flap compared with simple undermining with rectangular flap development.

DESIGN

Wound closing tensions of 30 acutely expanded skin sites and 30 matched undermined sites were compared after development of rectangular flaps. Analysis of covariance was used to determine statistical significance.

SUBJECTS

Ten domestic piglets.

RESULTS

When mean values of wound closing tension for the expanded rectangular flap were compared with those of the undermined rectangular flap a significant difference was found at the intermediate points along the curve for tension vs length of skin stretch.

CONCLUSION

For small lesions, acute tissue expansion in conjunction with the use of a rectangular flap results in decreased wound closing tensions when compared with simple undermining with the use of a flap.