Elevated compartmental pressures after closure of a forearm burn wound with a skin-stretching device

A case of successful delayed primary closure of an upper extremity electrical blow-out injury is described using an alternative technique. The Sure-Closure skin-stretching device1 was used for pernanent wound closure following serial debridement to protect the radial artery which was exposed over a distance of 21 cm. This method increases the options possible to achieve wound closure. However, the potential risks of this method include potentially high compartment pressures over a prolonged time in the postoperative period which requires close monitoring of limb perfusion.