Repair method for multiple adjacent small skin defects

Abstract

Local skin flaps can be used to repair isolated defects in the skin. Numerous flap repair methods have been described, A single defect is very easy to repair, but it is not easy to repair when there are dense local defects. Guidance directing the repair of multiple adjacent skin defects is undescribed. Therefore, we propose the repair method. The adjacent skin flap is transferred and sutured on the basis of retaining all of the skin, and finally several J and W-shaped incisions can be formed. Concurrently, the complex multiple defects are stratified into simple single defect, double defect and triple defect categories. Hence this approach is termed the "JW" repair program. In this study, There were 13 patients in this group across 15 geographical locations. 4 patients were male and 9 female. Patient age ranged between 17 and 44 years old. The defect area after excision ranged from 0.3cm×0.3cm to 2.3cm×2.3cm. Defects were repaired using the "JW" repair program. 13 patients healed well, while one case suffered a small degree of skin necrosis at the tip of the flap, which was repaired. All patients achieved satisfactory appearance upon healing with no dog ear formation and no appearance deformation. The repair method therefore simplifies the complex repair of multiple adjacent skin defects and is a useful and easy-to-master technique. It can maximize the preservation of normal skin, reduce local tension, and thus reduce scarring.