V-shaped lacerations can be challenging to close.They always leave an awkward, flimsy flap that feels like it should either be stretched too tightly or cut off leaving a gaping, unwieldy chunk of skin missing. Here is a slick way to close a V-shaped laceration that gives the flap its best chance to survive.

When faced with a V-shaped wound where the flap in the middle of the V is to flimsy to stretch all the way across the wound without excessive, blood supply compromising tension:

Close the distance the triangular flap has to reach by pulling the V together with a load-bearing, burried suture. Then overlie that deep suture with a corner stich:

Then, everything closes neatly with simple interrupted sutures and minimal tension:

This “V-to-Y” conversion is a great option in some of these V shaped lacerations that give the flap the best chance of a good outcome.