[Staged tissue expansion in the surgery of suppurative wounds]

To close extensive infected wounds and to replace long bone defects, along with other methods a method of graded tissue strain (GTS) has been developed and introduced into practice (246 patients). The method differs from all others in that it requires no transfer of elaborate flaps while replacing soft tissue defects; and no graft or foreign body is introduced externally into the wound in replacing long bone defect. Soft tissue defect is gradually replaced by wound-adjacent intrinsic tissues, the wound is closed by related skin and bone defect is filled by an osseous regenerate which is formed during graded transposition of the osteotomized fragment. At the same time good blood supply and tissue innervation retain, which contributes to their resistance to purulent infection. The analysis of the findings has led to the conclusion that GTS is an indispensible contribution to the development of plastic purulent surgery allowing the anatomic and functional integrity of the diseased segment to be restored.