title: Applications of Burow's Grafts in the Reconstruction of Mohs Micrographic Surgery Defects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical defects in anatomically challenging locations, such as near free margins or crossing cosmetic subunits, may present reconstructive challenges to the dermatologic surgeon. For selected defects, Burow's grafts may produce functional and aesthetic results in a single operative session.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the applications of the Burow's graft technique for the repair of defects after Mohs micrographic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  An institutional review board-approved retrospective database review of surgical defects repaired with Burow's grafting after Mohs micrographic surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina was performed. The general technique of Burow's grafting is described, emphasizing proper graft sizing and direction of tension vectors. Varying anatomic locations and defect types are presented, with site-specific considerations and operative photographs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Burow's grafting provides ideal color and textural match, preserves subunit boundaries, results in a compact single-site wound, and may avoid complications of alternate repair choices. The tension vectors produced in closing the graft's harvest site may be designed to prevent distortion of free margins. Burow's grafting may be combined with hinge flaps to repair deep or avascular defects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Burow's grafts are reproducible, aesthetic, and useful reconstructive choices for a variety of surgical wounds.
authors.affiliation: *All authors are affiliated with the Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benoit
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Leach
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D015580:Mohs Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D019737:Transplants / Q000098:blood supply; D058106:Wound Closure Techniques