Stellate purse-string closure

BACKGROUND. There are fundamental concepts we use in managing surgical defe cts. Whether planning a primary closure or a local flap, we frequently modi fy the basic design to maximize aesthetic outcomes, taking into considerati on a number of factors including the location of the defect and tissue avai lability. OBJECTIVE. We describe the stellate modified purse-string closure, a novel flap modification. METHOD. Report of an illustrated case. RESULT. A patient with vertex scalp defect was reconstructed using the stel late purse-string flap. CONCLUSION. Certain modifications of commonly used reconstructive technique s can be utilized in specific situations to enhance cosmesis. Advantages of this modification are discussed.