The lateral pulley buried dermal suture.

To achieve complete closure of wounds under tension, the lateral pulley buried dermal suture is described. The pulley loop exists not between the two margins of the wound, but in the outer dermis. The needle entry and exit occur on the undermined undersurface of the dermis. It has mechanical advantages similar to the modified buried dermal suture and compresses less marginal tissue. The pulley suture can secure the wound under tension without creating tension on the epidermis and superficial dermis at the wound edge.