A novel technique using a rotation flap for repairing adjacent surgical defects

The incidence of head and neck carcinomas continues to rise. Surgical excision is a frequently used method for removing these carcinomas. It is not uncommon to have multiple skin carcinomas present at the same time or in close proximity to each other. Therefore, surgeons can be presented with the challenge of repairing adjacent surgical defects while avoiding unacceptable wound closure tension and distortion of neighboring structures.

The presentation of a novel method for repairing adjacent surgical defects with a rotation flap.

Standard excision tray.

We present a novel method for repairing adjacent surgical defects with a rotation flap. Surgeons are presented with adjacent surgical defects and challenged to find the repair option that will give the most optimal cosmetic result. The options for closing small adjacent surgical defects include making the defects a single large defect for primary closure, full-thickness skin grafting, primary closure of each defect separately, flap coverage, secondary intention healing, or any combination of these. The use of a single rotation flap to cover two adjacent surgical defects provides the surgeon with a convenient and cosmetically acceptable option that avoids unacceptable wound tension and does not distort neighboring structures.