Use of tissue meshing technique to facilitate side to side closure of large defects

BACKGROUND. Primary closure of a large mound usually needs flaps of sophisticated design or skill grafts, both require more skill and wound care. Motley and Holt first reported the use of meshed advancement flap, a relative simple technique to close large defects of file lower leg in five patients. OBJECTIVE. To report the use of tissue meshing technique to close large wounds with significant tension on various sites of the body. METHODS. Six patients with large benign or malignant neoplasms at various sites of the body were included. Tissue meshing technique was used to facilitate wound closure after elliptical excision of the tumors at office visits. RESULTS. The wound defects, ranging from 3.0-3.5 cm in width, were closed with satisfactory cosmetic results, except for the occurrence of transient small hypertrophic scars in one patient. There was no complication of wound dehiscence, ischemia, infection or hematoma. CONCLUSION. Tissue meshing technique is a simple procedure and appears to be a satisfactory alternative to facilitate the closure of large wounds under tension. This technique is suitable for most body sites excluding central face and neck because there may be a stippled appearance in the area of meshing. (C) 1998 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.