Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Full-thickness
graft
Split-thickness
grafts
Full-thickness
graft
Full-thickness
grafts
Full-thickness
graft
Fat-dermis
graft
Split-thickness
grafts
5.2
Possible skin graft donor sites (from Rudolph and Balantyne, 1990).
partial-thickness. Regardless of graft type, all require a vascularized wound bed.
Full thickness skin grafts have several advantages, including a better cosmetic
result, with less associated contraction, in comparison to thinner grafts, but require
a healthier, more vascularized bed. The size of a full-thickness skin graft is limited
if primary closure of the graft donor site is desired. Common full-thickness skin
graft donor sites include post-auricular, pre-auricular, supra-clavicular, anticubital
fossa, inguinal crease and volar wrist crease skin (Fig. 5.2). In cases of elective
reconstruction, larger full thickness grafts can be obtained by tissue expansion of
the planned donor site. This typically cannot be done for treatment of an acute
wound given that several weeks are typically required for adequate expansion. In
this situation, the full-thickness skin graft donor site may need to be closed with a
split-thickness graft from a third site.
Full-thickness grafts are most commonly used on the face and the hands. It is
important to consider consistency, thickness, color and texture with resurfacing
defects on the face. For example, eyelid skin, which is thin with few glandular
