Observation of the Clinical Efficacy of Self-Modified Skin-Stretching Device in the Treatment of Soft-Tissue Defects of the Heel: A Retrospective Single-Arm Cohort Study.

Objective: Due to the poor skin mobility of the heel, there are few reports on the efficacy and safety of skin-stretching devices in the treatment of soft-tissue defects of the heel. Redesigning the claws of the stretching devices may be one of the solutions to the problem. This study was designed to investigate the clinical effect of self-modified skin-stretching device in the treatment of soft-tissue defects in the heel.

Methods: From December 2017 to March 2022, 23 patients with heel soft-tissue defects were enrolled. There were 15 males and 8 females, with a mean age of 50 years (range, 28-73 years). Defect size, time of wound closure, duration of stretching time, and complications were documented. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot score was used to evaluate functional outcomes, and pain was assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS) at the last follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed using t-tests and Mann-Whitney U test.

Results: The mean follow-up time was 14.2 months. Primary wound closure was performed in 6 patients and delayed wound closure in 17 patients. The average time of wound closure was 14.3 days, and the average duration of stretching time was 23.5 days. Complications were observed in 9 patients. Finally, all wounds were healed. At the last follow-up, the average AOFAS score was 86.7, with 9 excellent, 13 good, and 1 fair results. The mean VAS score was 2.6.

Conclusions: Self-modified skin-stretching device is another option for treating heel soft-tissue defects. The technique can achieve good appearance and function with a low price and easy to install.