De-epithelialised turn-over flaps for "salvage" operations.

Full-thickness loss of a part of a skin flap may produce a serious residual defect that needs additional flap cover. A de-epithelialised "turn-over" skin flap (Thatte, 1981; Mahler and Yanai, 1981; Thatte, 1982) fashioned from the surviving adjacent flap skin, can provide a simple solution to these residual defects. The same technique can also be effectively employed where a skin flap of inadequate dimensions has been transferred to an area resulting in a defect or a deformity due to skin shortage. Two representative cases are presented and the merits of the technique are discussed.