title: The use of the spanning suspension suture in facial reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The closure of large cutaneous defects of the upper face can be challenging, often requiring the use of large rotation, advancement, or transposition flaps or skin grafts.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the use of the spanning suspension suture, a technique we have adapted to facilitate closure of large cutaneous defects of the upper face.
  
  
  METHODS
  Report of an illustrated case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A large full-thickness defect of the temple was successfully reconstructed using the spanning suspension suture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of the spanning suspension suture permits recruitment of skin from the lower cheek and neck in the closure of large wounds of the upper face, avoiding the need for transposition or rotation flaps and grafts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Herbst
authors.forename: Anthony V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Benedetto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques