A significant proportion of basal and squamous cell cancers that are referred to me (as a Plastic Surgeon) can be managed in our office procedure room on an outpatient basis. This involves the use of local anaesthetic, a single use sterile instrument pack, suture repair and simple dressings. These dressings are almost invariably removed within 12-24 hours, and the wound then washed / showered daily. Suture removal may occur between 5 days and 3 weeks depending site of the skin cancer, tension on the wound closure and the patients planned level of activity.

When skin cancers are larger or located on more challenging sites, surgery may be more appropriately undertaken in a Day Surgery facility or indeed with an overnight hospital admission.

All skin cancers removed by excision are submitted to examination by a Pathologist to confirm the exact nature of the tumour and ensure that complete removal with an appropriate margin has been achieved.  

Flap Repairs

Wounds repaired with flaps generally cared for in much the same way as described above. Conceptually, a flap can be thought of as the transfer of skin from area of relative laxity (tissue abundance) into a defect (typically after skin cancer removal or a trauma defect). The transferred tissue is nourished by an underlying blood supply (tissue bridge) that is is transferred along with the skin. Because all the skin is vascularised wound healing is typically reliable and wound care simple. Some examples of commonly used flaps and their healing/wound care are illustrated below.

Bilobed flap repair after excision of a basal cell cancer on the nasal tip

Wound care has consisted of normal showering and simple application of an antibiotic ointment once a day from the first post-operative day. Sutures are typically removed 6-8 days later.

Scalp Rotation Flaps are used when ever possible to repair  scalp defects as they provide optimal cosmetic repairs and are very easy to care for post-operatively.

Wound care has simply consisted of showering to wash the wound from the first post-operative day.

 

Keystone Flaps are commonly used to repair larger excision defects and are especially useful on the limbs as they can often obviate the need for a skin graft. This allows for a more rapid recovery, superior aesthetic appearance, and substantially less complex wound care.

Wound care has simply consisted of gentle washing during normal daily showering and the application of a small amount of Betadine/antiseptic solution daily. A small amount of resolving bruising is apparent. Sutures are typically removed after 3 weeks.

Skin Grafts

Full thickness skin grafts are ofter used to repair wounds on the face. A piece of skin with appropriate characteristics (texture, colour, thickness) is obtained from a donor site that can itself be closed directly with sutures and is usually located at a relatively inconspicuous site. The graft is then carefully secured into the original wound (usually the site of a skin cancer excision or an injury when skin has been lost). The dressing is designed to encourage blood vessels in the base of the defect to grow into the graft. The initial process of graft vascularisation typically takes 7-10 days and it is highly desirable that the graft is held securely against the wound base.

Split (partial thickness) Skin Grafts

Larger excision defects and trauma wounds may not be suitable for repair with either flaps or full thickness skin grafts. In these instances a skin graft consisting of only a portion of the skin may be the most appropriate way to repair the defect. These grafts are generally reliable but issues such as vascular disease, diabetes, pre-existing infections, and wound sites on the lower limb can present challenges.

The skin graft has developed a good blood supply from the underlying wound base. At the periphery of the graft, where it overlaps the underlying skin edges, the graft has desiccated. This is entirely normal and simply trimmed.