Technical note: the use of nitroglycerin ointment after precarious neurosurgical wound closure

It is suggested that the application of nitroglycerin ointment to neurosurgical wound closure exhibiting skin pallor or cyanosis can minimize necrosis and dehiscence. Examples of the use of this agent in patients undergoing myelomeningocele closure as well as in a premature infant undergoing ventriculoperitoneal shunting are described.