Surgical error due to incorrect identification of the surgical site has been known to occur right from the beginning of surgical practice through the ages. However, increasing awareness, preventative efforts and risks...Surgical error due to incorrect identification of the surgical site has been known to occur right from the beginning of surgical practice through the ages. However, increasing awareness, preventative efforts and risks of litigation have not eliminated this problem. Cutaneous surgery for skin cancer makes up a large proportion of procedures performed each year and it is often difficult to correctly identify biopsy sites, especially as this is not easy in sun-damaged skin. In this review article, we review the incidence of wrong-site surgery, measures taken by professional bodies, and the use of photography and newer technologies in an attempt to eliminate this distressing event in the field of plastic and dermatologic surgery. The purpose of this review is to highlight the incidence of such surgical site identification errors, evaluate the risk factors, and educate the surgeon about measures that can be undertaken to avoid being faced with such a situation.展开更多
Aim: The sternal region, cervico-mandibular region and the intra-mammary region have been the bane of many cutaneous surgeons, with a higher propensity for poor scarring and wound complications. In this article, the a...Aim: The sternal region, cervico-mandibular region and the intra-mammary region have been the bane of many cutaneous surgeons, with a higher propensity for poor scarring and wound complications. In this article, the author undertakes a review of different methods of breaking up scars by utilizing zigs and zags, and conducts a pigskin study to measure the reduction in tension that can be achieved by using a simple zigzag technique while performing excisions. Methods: A pigskin study conducted into the use of the simple zigzag to reduce the tension (and thereby scarring) of surgical wounds is reported here, and comparison and review is undertaken of the biomechanics of elliptical excisions and traditional Z-plasties. Results: Using a simple zigzag reduces tension across the midpoint of the scar more effectively than a Z-plasty or a simple elliptical excision. Conclusion: The techniques of breaking up a scar or incision line by using zigs and zags, in a means to reduce scarring, are not new. However, each of these techniques has specific advantages and disadvantages that need consideration by the surgeon. In this paper, a pigskin study is conducted into the use of the simple zigzag to reduce the tension (and thereby reduce the risk of poor scarring) of surgical wounds.展开更多
文摘Surgical error due to incorrect identification of the surgical site has been known to occur right from the beginning of surgical practice through the ages. However, increasing awareness, preventative efforts and risks of litigation have not eliminated this problem. Cutaneous surgery for skin cancer makes up a large proportion of procedures performed each year and it is often difficult to correctly identify biopsy sites, especially as this is not easy in sun-damaged skin. In this review article, we review the incidence of wrong-site surgery, measures taken by professional bodies, and the use of photography and newer technologies in an attempt to eliminate this distressing event in the field of plastic and dermatologic surgery. The purpose of this review is to highlight the incidence of such surgical site identification errors, evaluate the risk factors, and educate the surgeon about measures that can be undertaken to avoid being faced with such a situation.
文摘Aim: The sternal region, cervico-mandibular region and the intra-mammary region have been the bane of many cutaneous surgeons, with a higher propensity for poor scarring and wound complications. In this article, the author undertakes a review of different methods of breaking up scars by utilizing zigs and zags, and conducts a pigskin study to measure the reduction in tension that can be achieved by using a simple zigzag technique while performing excisions. Methods: A pigskin study conducted into the use of the simple zigzag to reduce the tension (and thereby scarring) of surgical wounds is reported here, and comparison and review is undertaken of the biomechanics of elliptical excisions and traditional Z-plasties. Results: Using a simple zigzag reduces tension across the midpoint of the scar more effectively than a Z-plasty or a simple elliptical excision. Conclusion: The techniques of breaking up a scar or incision line by using zigs and zags, in a means to reduce scarring, are not new. However, each of these techniques has specific advantages and disadvantages that need consideration by the surgeon. In this paper, a pigskin study is conducted into the use of the simple zigzag to reduce the tension (and thereby reduce the risk of poor scarring) of surgical wounds.
