Soft Tissue Surgery

Scott M. Strayer, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor

University of Virginia Health System

Department of Family Medicine

Case Study A 50 year old white male presents to your

office with a large, dark mole on his back that has been there for several years. He reports that he often fishes on the Chesapeake Bay without his shirt on and has been doing this for years. He reports that the mole has been enlarging. On physical exam you find a very dark mole, approximately 7mm in diameter with an irregular border. How would you approach this lesion?

Significance of Skin Cancer in Primary Care

Expect to encounter 6-7 cases of basal cell cancer annually

1-2 cases of squamous cell cancer 1 case of melanoma

Introduction Soft tissue surgery is an important

skill for family practitioners to learn and practice

Identifying lesions for removal and using the proper techniques is critical

Knowing when to refer is very important

Topics of Discussion

identifying worrisome lesions removal options (cryotherapy,

punch biopsy,shave biopsy, incisional biopsy, and excisional biopsy)

excisional techniques (3:1 ratio) suture types

Informed Consent

Get it. Complications, Indications and

Alternatives. Need pre-printed form, plus need a

note describing the above.

Suture Selection

Absorbable (vicryl, dexon, pds) and Non-absorbable types (skin, vascular, orthopedics).

Number of “0s” (the more “Os” the smaller the suture.

Common Suture Use

Skin (interr.) Skin (subq) Buried Removal

Location

Face 5-0, 6-0 4-0 or 5-0 4-0 or 5-0 4-7 days nylon prolene synthetic absorbable

Extremities,trunk 4-0 or 5-0 3-0 or 4-0 3-0 or 4-0 7-14 days nylon synth. Abs. Synth. Abs.

Needle Selection

Cutting-most skin surgery. FS- for skin P, PS, PRE for cosmetic areas Taper-fascia and bowel Blunt-liver and kidney Higher number=smaller needle Use larger needles for deep tissue,

smaller needle to close the skin.

Needle Types

Cosmetic Needles

Anesthesia

Lidocaine Epinephrine Location Toxic doses

Worrisome Lesions the A, B, C’s of worrisome lesions Asymmetry Border irregularity Color variegation Diameter (>6mm) Elevation any lesion which the patient reports is

growing, changing, irritating, bleeding, etc. Skin surveys should be done at least yearly on

asymptomatic patients, more frequently on patients with histories of skin cancer

Removing the Lesion Options include punch biopsy, shave

biopsy, cryotherapy, incisional biopsy, and excisional biopsy

punch biopsies should be reserved for lesions with a low index of suspicion for malignancy

cryotherapy should be used on lesions such as seborrheic keratoses, actinic keratoses, and other non-malignant lesions such as plantar warts, molluscum contagiosum, etc.

If in doubt use an excisional biopsy

Choice of Biopsy Technique

Punch Biopsy Technique

Punch Biopsy Technique

Complications

Scarring Wound infection Bleeding

Main Suture Techniques

Buried suture Interrupted suture Vertical mattress suture Subcuticular suture

Suturing Techniques

Excisional Biopsies Avoid danger areas such as pre-auricular,

angle of mandible and posterior cervical triangle

plan excision along relaxed skin tension lines

use 3:1 ratio and mark site with gentian violet marker

use appropriate anesthesia (I.e. no epinephrine on finger tips, nose tip, tip of penis)

Skin Tension Lines

Excisional Biopsy

Buried Suture

Interrupted Suture

Vertical Mattress Suture

Uses

Wound eversion Evenly distributes tension Dead space closure Good for holding tension (e.g. back)

Use on: Posterior neck, concave surfaces

Avoid on: Cosmetically sensitive areas

Horizontal Mattress

Uses

Wound eversion Anchoring stitch Fragile skin (e.g. elderly, steroid

use)

Warnings: Tend to cause scarring and can cause necrosis if too tight, remove after 3-5 days.

Subcuticular Suture