Clinical outcome of cutaneous flaps versus full-thickness skin grafts after Mohs surgery on the nose.
BACKGROUND
A large proportion of facial skin cancers occur on the nose, and defects after Mohs surgery in this location often present a reconstructive challenge. For intermediate-sized defects, the choice of reconstruction is usually between skin flap and full-thickness skin graft. Ongoing debate exists, and limited data are available to determine which of these methods is more satisfactory.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and compare the clinical appearance of wound healing after surgical repair with a skin graft versus a skin flap for Mohs defects on the nose.


METHODS
In this study, 43 flaps and 24 grafts were evaluated using a modified Hollander Wound Evaluation Scale and a visual analogue scale.


RESULTS
The mean visual analogue scale score was significantly better for flap repairs than for graft repairs. In addition, 100% of flaps had an acceptable overall cosmetic appearance on the basis of the Hollander Wound Evaluation Scale, compared with only 75% of skin grafts.


CONCLUSIONS
For defects on the nose where flap and graft repair may both be technically possible, a flap may be more likely to result in superior cosmetic outcome.
Jacobs
M Amanda
MA
Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. jacobs.mary@mayo.edu
Christenson
Leslie J
LJ
Weaver
Amy L
AL
Appert
David L
DL
Phillips
P Kim
PK
Roenigk
Randall K
RK
Otley
Clark C
CC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*