title: Stellate purse-string closure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are fundamental concepts we use in managing surgical defects. Whether planning a primary closure or a local flap, we frequently modify the basic design to maximize aesthetic outcomes, taking into consideration a number of factors including the location of the defect and tissue availability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We describe the stellate modified purse-string closure, a novel flap modification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Report of an illustrated case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A patient with vertex scalp defect was reconstructed using the stellate purse-string flap.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Certain modifications of commonly used reconstructive techniques can be utilized in specific situations to enhance cosmesis. Advantages of this modification are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Skin and Laser Surgery Center of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Greenbaum
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000601:surgery*; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000601:surgery*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps