Delayed repair of skin cancer defects.

PURPOSE: A review of surgical outcomes in 280 patients who underwent in-office excision of skin lesions, open wound therapy, and delayed reconstruction is presented. Advantages of open wound therapy and delayed reconstruction are discussed.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The surgical records of all patients treated between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1996 were evaluated for outcome and complications.

RESULTS

One hundred seventeen patients presented with biopsy-confirmed malignant skin lesions of the head and neck. After surgical excision of the malignancy, the wounds were treated with a semiocclusive dressing while waiting for the results of the biopsy report and reconstruction (open wound therapy). Eighty-nine percent of the residual skin defects were repaired within 10 days. The remaining 11% were closed within 35 days. Except for one allergic reaction to neomycin and slight blood oozing from the wound in two patients, no other complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Open wound therapy is an effective method for managing skin defects after excision of malignant lesions. It is cost-effective and can be done quickly as an in-office procedure under local anesthesia without complications.