The “Nordström Suture” to Enhance Serial Scalp Reductions and Other Serial Excisions as Well as to Treat and Prevent Scar Widening

Abstract

The “Nordstrom Suture” started with our interest in tissue expansion, which resulted in quite several publications and an international textbook in this field. We became very familiar with biological and mechanical creep. Expanders and extenders were our main tools and we tried to find solutions to the problems we had with them. This led us to the development of the Nordstrom suture. The main indications for us for the suture so far have been (1) enhancement of serial reductions of bald scalp, burn scars, and so on; (2) prevention of scar widening in situations where proper plastic surgery techniques have not been able to prevent disfiguring scar widening. We believe this medical-grade superelastic suture will probably find many other applications in plastic, reconstructive, and general surgery.