Precise Intraoperative 60° Skin Z-plasty

published online 01 February 2010.

Abstract

The primary objective of this tip is to assist foot and ankle surgeons in performing a precise 60° lengthening Z-plasty in the operating room without the use of a template or protractor. A ruler and basic trigonometric principles are applied to the line of contracture to obtain consistent and reliable results.

Keywords: contracture, rotational skin flap, Z-plasty

1 Resident, Inova Fairfax Hospital Podiatric Surgical Residency Program, Falls Church, Virginia

2 Resident, Inova Fairfax Hospital Podiatric Surgical Residency Program, Falls Church, Virginia

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Podiatric Surgery, Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Address correspondence to: Samantha E. Bark, DPM, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Podiatric Surgical Residency Office, T6W, 3300 Gallows Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042.

Financial Disclosure: None reported.

Conflict of Interest: None reported.

PII: S1067-2516(09)00351-2

doi:10.1053/j.jfas.2009.08.008

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