External tissue stretching for closing skin defects in 22 patients.

In this prospective study, we treated 12 women and 10 men with a newly developed skin-stretching system. The stretching device was used for the closure of 9 fasciotomies and for preoperative skin extension before excision of 6 tattooes, 7 splitskin transplants, 4 giant naevi, and 3 scars. The stretching device was placed under the skin, using local anesthesia. The patient stretched the skin. The mean stretching time was 4 (2-11) days. 20 patients completed the expansion successfully, with no pain or only slight discomfort. In 2 cases, we observed minor complications during the expansion. The external skin-stretching system can be used to obtain primary closure of defects where splitskin transplants otherwise would be necessary. The method can be applied in out-patients, using local anesthesia.