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Dog-ears: a useful artifice in the closure of extensive wounds
V De Giorgi1, F Mannone, E Quercioli
1Department of Dermatology, University of Florence, Italy. dermoncologia@unifi.it
Background:
Wounds too extensive to permit primary repair by suturing can be closed using a skin graft or skin flap and the choice of method depends on a series of factors. Practice and personal experience play a role, as well as the characteristics of the lesion and its site. Each case poses special problems, so it is not possible to establish firm rules.
Objective:
To present a surgical technique for the closure of a circular defect located on the dorsum of the foot, which resulted from the extirpation of a melanoma by surgery.
Methods:
In this case we used a mixed procedure consisting of skin flaps and a double full-thickness skin graft. For this operation we used dog-ears resulting from the circular exeresis performed for the extirpation of the tumour.
Results:
The reconstructive results were good and there were no postoperative complications.
Conclusions:
We consider this procedure particularly suitable for certain anatomical sites, such as the dorsum of the foot, where the skin is less elastic and thinner; and for patients who are not willing to accept skin removal from other sites or for flaps to be made with more invasive operations and more constructed scars.