Premium
Closure of the Fibula Free Flap Donor Site With the Sure‐Closure™ Skin‐Stretching Device
Author(s) -
Futran Neal D.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-199612000-00008
Subject(s) - fibula , wound closure , closure (psychology) , surgery , skin grafting , medicine , free flap , resection , wound healing , tibia , economics , market economy
Fibula osseocutaneous free tissue transfer represents state‐of‐the‐art reconstruction of the oromandibular complex following oncologic resection. The width of the fibula skin paddle is usually limited by the ability to achieve primary wound closure. In some cases the donor site requires skin grafting and subsequent surgical procedures to achieve effective closure, or placement of a tissue expander. The recent development of an indexed tissue advancement system(Sure Closure™) makes it possible to take advantage of the viscoelastic properties of skin to close large wound deficits in a single procedure. The system secures and brings together wound edges by applying graduated pressure with a metered force approximator. A series of 12 fibula osseocutaneous free flap defects is presented, which have been successfully closed using this simple, convenient, and safe device.