The keystone flap: expanding the dermatologic surgeon's armamentarium. 2015

Schapoor Hessam, and Michael Sand, and Falk G Bechara
Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.

First described in 2003, the keystone flap has become an established plastic and reconstructive surgery technique for the closure of soft tissue defects following the excision of skin tumors. Complex reconstruction procedures may thus be avoided [3]. In dermatosurgery, however, the keystone flap remains largely unknown.Compared to subcutaneous pedicle flaps, the keystone flap technique warrants better vascular supply by additional-ly preserving musculocutaneous and fasciocutaneous perforator vessels [4]. Moreover, the flap is hyperemic compared to the surrounding skin [5]. Adequate perfusion and its specific design result in high safety of the flap. According to both published data and the authors’ experience, the keystone flap technique is associated with a low complication rate [1, 6].In summary, the keystone flap method yields good aesthetic and functional results by preserving shape and cont-our, avoiding differences in skin coloration and preserving sensitivity (Figure 1b). The flap is particularly well suited for deep defects with exposed bones or tendons, especially on the extremities or the trunk. Alternative closing options such as secondary intention healing, primary closure, or local flaps appear less adequate in these cases. In addition, skin grafting without long-term wound conditioning–for example negative pressure wound therapy–or expensive der-mal replacement products are not very promising. Thus, the keystone flap provides the dermatosurgeon with an effective alternative to reconstruction techniques.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012878 Skin Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the SKIN. Cancer of Skin,Skin Cancer,Cancer of the Skin,Neoplasms, Skin,Cancer, Skin,Cancers, Skin,Neoplasm, Skin,Skin Cancers,Skin Neoplasm
D013524 Surgical Flaps Tongues of skin and subcutaneous tissue, sometimes including muscle, cut away from the underlying parts but often still attached at one end. They retain their own microvasculature which is also transferred to the new site. They are often used in plastic surgery for filling a defect in a neighboring region. Island Flap,Island Flaps,Flap, Surgical,Flaps, Surgical,Pedicled Flap,Surgical Flap,Flap, Island,Flap, Pedicled,Flaps, Island,Flaps, Pedicled,Pedicled Flaps
D016038 Skin Transplantation The grafting of skin in humans or animals from one site to another to replace a lost portion of the body surface skin. Dermatoplasty,Grafting, Skin,Transplantation, Skin,Dermatoplasties,Graftings, Skin,Skin Grafting,Skin Graftings,Skin Transplantations,Transplantations, Skin
D058106 Wound Closure Techniques Methods to repair breaks in tissue caused by trauma or to close surgical incisions. Surgical Closure Techniques,Closure Technique, Surgical,Closure Technique, Wound,Closure Techniques, Surgical,Closure Techniques, Wound,Surgical Closure Technique,Technique, Surgical Closure,Technique, Wound Closure,Techniques, Surgical Closure,Techniques, Wound Closure,Wound Closure Technique
D062109 Dermatologic Surgical Procedures Operative procedures performed on the SKIN. Cutaneous Surgery,Cutaneous Surgical Procedures,Dermatologic Surgery,Skin Surgery,Cutaneous Surgeries,Cutaneous Surgical Procedure,Dermatologic Surgeries,Dermatologic Surgical Procedure,Procedure, Cutaneous Surgical,Procedure, Dermatologic Surgical,Procedures, Cutaneous Surgical,Procedures, Dermatologic Surgical,Skin Surgeries,Surgeries, Cutaneous,Surgeries, Dermatologic,Surgeries, Skin,Surgery, Cutaneous,Surgery, Dermatologic,Surgery, Skin,Surgical Procedure, Cutaneous,Surgical Procedure, Dermatologic,Surgical Procedures, Cutaneous,Surgical Procedures, Dermatologic
D019651 Plastic Surgery Procedures Procedures used to reconstruct, restore, or improve defective, damaged, or missing structures. Cosmetic Reconstructive Surgical Procedures,Cosmetic Surgical Procedures,Esthetic Reconstructive Surgical Procedures,Esthetic Surgical Procedures,Plastic Surgical Procedures,Reconstructive Surgical Procedures,Reconstructive Surgical Procedures, Cosmetic,Cosmetic Reconstructive Surgery,Procedure, Reconstructive Surgical,Procedures, Reconstructive Surgical,Reconstructive Surgical Procedure,Reconstructive Surgical Procedures, Esthetic,Surgical Procedure, Reconstructive,Surgical Procedures, Reconstructive,Cosmetic Reconstructive Surgeries,Cosmetic Surgical Procedure,Esthetic Surgical Procedure,Plastic Surgery Procedure,Plastic Surgical Procedure,Procedure, Cosmetic Surgical,Procedure, Esthetic Surgical,Procedure, Plastic Surgery,Procedure, Plastic Surgical,Procedures, Cosmetic Surgical,Procedures, Esthetic Surgical,Procedures, Plastic Surgery,Procedures, Plastic Surgical,Reconstructive Surgeries, Cosmetic,Reconstructive Surgery, Cosmetic,Surgeries, Cosmetic Reconstructive,Surgery Procedure, Plastic,Surgery Procedures, Plastic,Surgery, Cosmetic Reconstructive,Surgical Procedure, Cosmetic,Surgical Procedure, Esthetic,Surgical Procedure, Plastic,Surgical Procedures, Cosmetic,Surgical Procedures, Esthetic,Surgical Procedures, Plastic

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