Afrontamiento primario con elásticos vasculares en el manejo del cierre progresivo de fasciotomías

Abstract

Background: Compartment syndrome of the extremity may occur after severe trauma with vascular lesions secondary to fractures, crushes or gunshots. To prevent it a fasciotomy must be done. Aim To report the use vessel loop shoelace technique for the progressive closure of the fasciotomy. Material and methods: Descriptive study of 24 patients aged 26 ± 9 years (21 males) that required fasciotomy to prevent compartment syndromes. The fasciotomy wound was closed progressively using vessel loops anchored to the skin with staples or sutures, which were tightened progressively, according to the evolution. Results: The studied patients required a total of 56 fasciotomies. In all patients a complete or near complete closure of the wound was achieved. The mean closure time was 9.5 ± 3.3 days. Mean hospital stay was 12.3 ± 4.3 days. Conclusions: Vessel loop shoelace technique is effective for fasciotomy wound closure.