EFFECTS OF INTRAOPERATIVE TISSUE EXPANSION AND SKIN FLAPS ON WOUND CLOSING TENSIONS

Objective: To evaluate the effect on wound closing tension of acute ti ssue expansion combined with development of a rectangular flap compare d with simple undermining with rectangular flap development. Design: W ound 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 significanc e. Subjects: Ten domestic piglets. Results: When mean values of wound closing tension for the expanded rectangular flap were compared with t hose 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 expansio n in conjunction with the use of a rectangular flap results in decreas ed wound closing tensions when compared with simple undermining with t he use of a flap.