Combined closures in reconstructive surgery

Abstract

It is common for dermatology surgery patients to present on the day of surgery with more than one skin cancer needing Mohs micrographic surgery. When these carcinomas are located near one another, it may be more practical to treat both at the same time as the reconstruction for one defect may involve or otherwise affect the treatment or reconstruction for the other carcinoma. Treating both cancers on the same day creates an opportunity for efficient repairs where a creative single reconstruction may minimize the amount of tissue wasted during reconstruction, and minimize morbidity for the patient. Further, combining multiple defects into one closure may reduce cost as it has been shown that reconstructive choice affects the cost-effectiveness of Mohs surgery relative to a traditional excision and Mohs surgeons more commonly select less costly options for wound management. We present a case series of two-in-one closures - repairing two defects with one closure.