Sutureless Burow's graft using adhesive skin tape (Steri-strip®)

Immobilization of skin grafts on the recipient bed is essential for graft survival. There are several methods of securing skin grafts to the recipient wound bed. Classically, nylon basting sutures and a tie-over bolster dressing are commonly used. This method is currently recognized to ensure that the full thickness skin grafts "take"; however, this method is complicated and time-consuming. Moreover, suturing in this manner may also pull the edges of the skin with too much tension, cause elevation and crater-like deformity and suture marks. We experienced two cases of sutureless Burow's graft using skin tapes to reconstruct a skin defect after Moh's micrographic surgery. Instead of the conventional method, the Steri-strip® was used to fix the graft and a light compressive dressing with dry gauze and Tegaderm® was applied over the graft. This method has the advantage of being convenient to apply and remove, time-saving and inexpensive. Therefore, we recommend the use of the sutureless method using skin tape as an alternative to suturing small skin grafts, and particularly for the relatively immobile areas on the face.