Continuous External Tissue Expansion Closure Technique for Management of Forearm Compartment Syndrome Releases and Simple Upper-Extremity Wounds

Abstract

Upper-extremity wounds from various etiologies such as trauma and fasciotomies can prove to be problematic for the upper-extremity surgeon. These defects can result in considerable morbidity often requiring prolonged wound care and the eventual use of skin grafting from a separate painful donor site. Tissue expansion takes advantage of the viscoelastic properties of skin to provide additional tissue for reconstruction. The authors present a technique using a continuous external tissue expansion device for closure of upper-extremity wounds.

Keywords: Compartment syndrome; continuous external tissue expansion; upper-extremity wounds.