52891
document
Maintaining tissue orientation during mohs micrographic surgery : scalpel versus marker . BACKGROUND Critical to the accuracy of Mohs surgery is the ability to maintain proper orientation of excised tissue with respect to the surrounding skin . Several techniques have been described for maintaining this orientation , although no prior investigations directly compare these techniques . OBJECTIVE To compare the incidence of tissue orientation loss resulting from inability to identify skin score marks with that occurring from failure to identify marks made using a gentian violet marker during Mohs micrographic surgery ( MMS ) . We also sought to determine the incidence of scars resulting from skin scoring . MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients undergoing MMS were prospectively randomized to have their tissue margins oriented using light scoring using a scalpel versus marking them using a gentian violet marker . Incidence of scoring scars and tissue orientation loss were the primary outcome measures . RESULTS Data were analyzed for 101 tumors . There were no instances of tissue orientation loss in the scalpel or marker arms , nor were there any visible score mark scars at follow-up . CONCLUSION Incidence of excessive scars resulting from lightly scored tissue or loss of tissue orientation caused by lost gentian violet markings appears to be low . Both methods worked well within the confines of this study .
52892
Intervention_Surgical
mohs micrographic surgery : scalpel versus marker
52893
Intervention_Surgical
Mohs surgery
52894
Intervention_Physical
gentian violet marker
52895
Intervention_Surgical
Mohs micrographic surgery ( MMS ) .
52896
Intervention_Surgical
MMS
52897
Intervention_Physical
tissue margins oriented using light scoring using a scalpel versus marking them using a gentian violet marker
52898
Outcome_Physical
tissue orientation loss
52899
Outcome_Physical
visible score mark scars
52900
Outcome_Physical
excessive scars
52901
Participant_Condition
mohs micrographic surgery
52902
Participant_Condition
Mohs micrographic surgery ( MMS )
52903
Participant_Condition
Patients undergoing MMS
52904
Participant_Sample-size
101