The UQ Flap

Case study for skin cancer on the leg

Skin cancer on the lower leg is a challenge due to thin skin, often high tension, and increased rate of infection. This lesion on the lateral leg was too large for an ellipse due to the size of the lesion and thin skin so I decided to do a UQ flap.

A UQ flap is a relatively new flap being described in the literature in 2024. It is very useful for closing defects on the leg. It is reliable and offers a great alternative to a skin graft or the larger Keystone flap for most leg lesions. It heals quickly with sutures coming out at day 7. With appropriate prophylactic antibiotics, the infection rate is also very low.

Image 1 - The lesion is excised and flap is cut but not undermined. Image 2 - 4-0 Monosyn was used to close the primary defect. Image 3 - The ‘tail’ of the secondary defect is closed in a VY fashion and then the remaining part of the secondary defect is also closed with 4-0 Monosyn. Image 4 - 4-0 nylon was used as a surface suture. 

The site healed well and sutures were removed on day 7 with no complications. This is just one of the many procedures that I do but it is probably my most common flap due to the number of lower leg skin cancers that I see. I am hoping to produce newsletters a few times a year.

Referred patients will only be treated for what is requested in the referral. This is to ensure that patients follow up with their regular GPs for the majority of their skin cancer needs unless that GP specifically requests otherwise. Our goal is high quality, timely, local and affordable care.

Referral to Dr. Oliver Simpson on Medical Objects or fax to Burrum Street. Call/SMS me on 0459403598 as needed to discuss the service or individual patients. 

Warm Regards

Dr. Oliver Simpson   

MBBS DCH FRACGP Dip Skin Cancer Surgery