Treatment of skin and soft tissue defect with Nice combination with elastic dressing and stretch

Objective To explore the clinical effects of Nice knot combined with elastic compress and stretch in treating skin and soft tissue defect. Methods From August 2017 to April 2019, a total of 23 patients, 10 males and 13 females, aged 36.5±5.3 years (range 26-76 years), were retrospectively analyzed. The defect size was 60±5.3 cm2 (28-96 cm2). Under local anesthesia, the wound was debrided thoroughly, sutured and fixed by Nice knot. The wound was fixed by elastic dressing and traction. The wound was retracted every 3 days during dressing change. The wound healing grade, healing rate, healing time, and postoperative Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) were observed and recorded. Results All operations were performed successfully in the debridement room. The operation time was 42±10.5 min (range 30-50 min), intraoperative bleeding 30±2.5 ml (range 20-60 ml), and the operation cost 180±11.5 RMB (range 160-240 RMB). Twenty patients were followed up for 4±2.5 months (range 3-6 months). The wound healing rate of 23 patients was 50%±3.5% (range 40%-56%). For the 20 patients, the wound healing rate was 65%±4.3% (range 53%-75%), 74%±4.5% (range 65%-80%), 83%±1.8% (range 76%-85%), 90%±1.6% (range 84%-95%) and 95%±3.5% (range 94%-98%) at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days, respectively. The wound healing rate of 20 patients was 100% at the 42nd days of follow-up. Wound healing rate of Grade A and grade B was 95% (19/20) with scar VSS score 4(3, 6). The excellent and good rate of grade B was 80% (16/20). Two cases were sutured and fixed with Nice knot after 10 days because of the partial loss of the sutures. One case was treated with vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) on-line junction because infection was not completely controlled. Local infection was controlled and the wound was contracted by Nice junction at 1 week. Conclusion The treatment of skin and soft tis sue defect with Nice combination with elastic dressing and traction has the advantages of simple operation, low operation condition, short operation time, less bleeding, low cost, high wound healing grade and healing rate, suitable for basic level hospital application and promotion. Key words: Suture techniques; Surgical tape; Soft tissue injuries; Wound healing