ABSTRACT
Objective@#To explore the clinical effect of cotton pads under stitches when intradermal traction with sutures is used to repair of chronic wounds.@*Methods@#From January 2009 to August 2016, 21 patients with 31 wounds were treated by continuous intradermal traction. Wound edges were sutured with 2-0 silk thread in horizontal mattress fashion, but not tied. Then small cotton pads were put under stitches to protect the skin around the wound. After that, the sutures on both sides of the wound edges were pulled to the center of the wound with a certain force. And the wound was sutured finally when the skin on both sides of the wound was closed enough.@*Results@#All of 31 wounds healed without necrosis of the skin margin and 5 cases of lacerated wound caused by silk thread healed after dressing change. The healing time was (43.24±11.46) days, and there was scarcely hypertrophic scar at the stitches. This method was compared with the previous method of protecting stitches with silicone tubes( referring to past data). There was no significant difference in the healing time between the two methods (P=0.119), and less laceration occurred under the stitches with cotton pads (P=0.046).@*Conclusions@#It is a commendable method for treating chronic wounds to put cotton pads under the stitches while tracting the wound edges with sutures. It can effectively cushion the cutting force of the silk thread, protect the traction point and facilitate the replacement of the pads.