Z-plasties for the Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon

Z-plasty refers to a local soft-tissue transposition using interdigitating triangular flaps and is a simple but powerful surgical technique to transpose skin, lengthen scars, and shift topography. There are a host of applications of this technique within pediatric orthopaedics, given the spectrum of traumatic, post-traumatic, and congenital differences affecting the growing child. The purpose of this Master’s Surgical Technique supplement is to describe the principles and common applications of z-plasties in pediatric orthopaedic surgery.