THE SHOELACE TECHNIQUE FOR WOUND CLOSURE IN OPEN FRACTURES - REPORT OF EARLY EXPERIENCE

A simple, reliable method of wound closure in open fractures is presen ted which has been used in the department. The necessity for split-ski n grafting or flap cover, with the associated morbidity and cost impli cations, has been avoided by using this method. It has not been associ ated with any major complications in the patients studied, but it shou ld be recognized that this method is not universally suitable in the t reatment of all open injuries. We recommend this method as a simple wa y of achieving soft tissue cover in open injuries which are thoroughly debrided and cleaned, and in which there is no evidence of raised int racompartmental pressure. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.