THE PREPOSITIONED INTRACUTANEOUS SUTURE F OR TREATMENT OF SKIN DEFECTS AFTER FASCIOTOMY IN THE ACUTE COMPARTMENT SYNDROME

In the treatment of the acute compartment syndrome open fasciotomy giv es rise to a wide soft tissue opening. The persistence of this opening prevents a timely change to internal osteosynthesis in case of additi onal fractures, usually treated by a fixateur externe. Closure of the skin defect itself requires additional surgery. The cosmetical results particular in cases of a mesh-grafting are unsatisfactory. After open fasciotomy the prepositioned intracutaneous suture is a simple operat ion technique leading to early wound closure with a good cosmetical re sult.