title: The Kerf-Cut dressing: application of a woodworking technique for efficient postsurgical wound care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Simple surgical excision is one of the most common treatment methods in the dermatologist's armamentarium. We describe a precise postsurgical dressing technique that can be used for wound care of those patients whose treatment involves removal of lesions via cutaneous surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To devise a novel, precise, and effective dressing technique for postsurgical wound care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the technique using common in-office instruments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wound dressings for lesions located on curved areas such as the ears, nose, cheeks, and chin often exhibit less than adequate adherence and stability. The kerf-cut dressing technique optimizes pliability of dressing tape, and this maximizes efficient and stable application of postsurgical wound dressings to curved areas of the body.
authors.affiliation: The University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Starling
authors.forename: Purvisha J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Ron D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rasberry
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery*