[The development of a skin-stretching device and its clinical application]

A skin-stretching device that is designed to harness the elastic properties of the skin using incremental traction is presented. In using this device, the skin is stretched from its edges by direct linear traction. The device produces extra skin tissue rapidly, and no undermining is necessary to loosen skin, so as to close large areas of skin shortage that would otherwise have required more complicated procedures for their repair. It can be employed for a duration of 20-640 minutes, and be applied preoperatively, intraoperatively or postoperatively. 52 patients have undergone the treatment since March 1994. Six months to one year's follow-up of 27 cases demonstrated satisfactory results. The method has following advantages: easy in manipulation, saving time, safe and fewer complications.