The shoelace technique for wound closure in open fractures: report of early experience.

A simple, reliable method of wound closure in open fractures is presented which has been used in this department. The necessity for split-skin grafting or flap cover, with the associated morbidity and cost implications, has been avoided by using this method. It has not been associated with any major complications in the patients studied, but it should be recognized that this method is not universally suitable in the treatment of all open injuries. We recommend this method as a simple way of achieving soft tissue cover in open injuries which are thoroughly debrided and cleaned, and in which there is no evidence of raised intracompartmental pressure.