HEALING BY SECONDARY INTENTION IN RELATIO N TO ANATOMICAL SUBUNITS OFTHE MIDDLE FACE

The healing of wounds by secondary intention is a simple method to clo se operative defects. The quality of wound healing will depend on the anatomic site on the face as well as on size and depth of the defect. Best functional and cosmetic results are obtained at locations with co ncave geometry and when the defect lies symmetrically at the interface of two anatomic subunits. Partial reconstruction or guiding sutures c an create a symmetric defect in relation to anatomic subunits which wi ll heal by second intention. This II simple and efficient operative pr ocedure is ilustrated by two case reports.