A regional survey of purse-string sutures for partial and complete closure of Mohs surgical defects.
BACKGROUND
The purse-string suture is a method for partial and complete closure of circular surgical defects.


OBJECTIVE
Short-term and long-term efficacy and cosmesis were assessed to evaluate the utility of purse-string closure as the sole method of closure of Mohs defects in different locations.


METHODS
Sixty-six circular wounds from Mohs surgery were closed with a running intradermal suture traversing the circumference of the wound. Preoperative and immediate postoperative wound areas were measured. Long-term cosmetic appearance was also assessed.


RESULTS
An immediate decrease in average wound area was observed, most notably in the neck and arm. Long-term cosmetic results were best in the head and neck and were remarkably similar for a given anatomic area.


CONCLUSIONS
The purse-string suture is rapid, simple, and associated with little morbidity. In properly selected cases, it is an excellent alternative for partial and complete closure of circular defects resulting from Mohs surgery.
*Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York; †Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, Florida; ‡Largo Medical Center, Nova Southeastern University, Largo, Florida.
James M
JM
Spencer
Sarah A
SA
Malerich
Summer D
SD
Moon
D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012086:Reoperation; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing