Deep Plane Fixation in Integumental Surgery
February 2004
in “
Dermatologic Surgery
”
TLDR Deep Plane Fixation in scalp surgeries allows for more tissue removal with less tension and minimal scarring.
The document analyzed over 2000 scalp surgeries to evaluate the effectiveness of Deep Plane Fixation (DPF), a technique that involves limited undermining and strategic suture placement in deep-plane tissues for tension-reduced closure. The study compared two groups of identical sagittal scalp reductions, one utilizing DPF and the other not. Results showed that the DPF group achieved reduced tension closure and allowed for significantly increased tissue excision. The technique, which redirects tension from superficial to deep tissues, enables more tissue removal and less tension during wound closure, leading to uncomplicated healing and minimal scarring. The document also provides technical guidance on DPF application and acknowledges the contribution of Catherine Seery for graphics.