title: Skin flaps.
abstract: Open wounds, particularly around the face, often require complicated techniques for optimal closure. The approach to the closure of the complicated wound depends largely on the nature of the wound, including the location and size of the defect, the functional outcome after closure, the medical comorbidities of the patient, neighboring structures, and whether the defect is secondary to a malignancy or trauma. The goals of wound management are optimal aesthetic outcome, preservation of function, and patient satisfaction. The authors briefly review basic skin closure options and discuss use of skin flaps, particularly of the head and neck region.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, New Jersey Medical School-UMDNJ, 90 Bergen Street, Suite 7200, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tschoi
authors.forename: Erik A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hoy
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Granick
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery*