title: Complete closure by purse-string suture after Mohs micrographic surgery on thin, sun-damaged skin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purse-string suture technique is useful for partial closure of surgical defects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We demonstrated that 100% closure can often be obtained on surgical defects of the thin skin on the upper extremities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard purse-string suture techniques were used to close surgical defects on the upper extremities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  100% closure of surgical defects on upper extremities was demonstrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Purse-string suture technique is useful for repairs of surgical defects on the upper extremities when the skin is very thin but not recommended when the skin is thick.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sao Paulo - SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romiti
authors.forename: Henry W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Randle
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D013536:Suture Techniques