ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION A skilled dermatologic surgeon quickly learns that the simplest and easiest repair for a cutaneous wound frequently results in fewer complications, faster healing, and minimal scarring. Yet there are many cases in which simple primary closure would fail to yield a desirable result because of the size of the wound or its anatomic location. In these circumstances, more complex repairs with the use of local random pattern flaps may be required to obtain the most satisfactory functional and cosmetic result. It is important to understand the appropriate applications of the different types of local random pattern cutaneous flaps. This greatly expands the number of surgical therapeutic options available to best repair a cutaneous detect. The basic concepts and principles of local flap repair and various clinical applications will be discussed.