title: Simplifying soft tissue closure of the large meningomyelocele defect: a technical note.
abstract: The surgical management of large neural tube defects not amenable to primary closure poses a significant challenge. As a result, large residual skin defects often prompt excessively aggressive primary closure, complicated skin incisions, or flap advancements. However, our experience with the purse-string closure of a large meningomyelocele skin defect demonstrates that this technique can effectively provide coverage of very large meningomyelocele defects with minimal residual deformity. Here, we discuss the successful coverage of a large 5 x 5 cm meningomyelocele skin wound via staged purse-string closure spaced 2 weeks apart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030-2399, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armenta
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dauser
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hollier
mesh_terms: D001684:Biological Dressings; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques