Four Cases of Burow's Graft for Periorbital Defect Reconstruction after Skin Cancer Surgery

Park, Seong Hyun; Lee, Seung Yong; Yi, Ji Hyun; Hong, Jin Seok; Yun, Seok Kweon; Kim, Han Uk; Ihm, Chull Wan

Abstract

The skin defects made from excision of malignant skin tumors can usually be reconstructed by secondary intention, primary closure, a local flap or skin graft. When reconstructing any skin defect, we must consider the defect site and size, reconstruction method, blood supply, wrinkling, relaxed skin tension line, donor site, patient's age, general health status, maintenance of function and cosmetic aspect. Reconstruction of the periorbital area is challenging to the dermatologist owing to the complex function of the eye, relative lack of adjacent loose tissue, free anatomic margin, and the need to maintain symmetry with the contralateral eye. The Burow's graft is a useful technique for periorbital wound reconstruction, using a full-thickness skin graft where the donor site is the skin adjacent to the wound. The use of adjacent skin as a graft gives a better color, texture, and thickness match than traditional donor sites. It also provides a simple method for reconstruction of wounds, compared to those repaired by a tight primary closure or local flap which may have excessive tension on sutures and distortion of nearby structures.