Other terms
- Skin Lesion
- Skin Tag
- Source Data Verification (SDV)
- Source Document
- Spider Veins
- Spinal Cord Hemorrhage
- Spinal Cord Ischemia
- ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)
- Stable Angina
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs)
- Stopping Rules
- Stratification
Skin Grafting
What is a Skin Graft? A skin graft is a surgical procedure wherein healthy skin is taken from one area of the body and transplanted to a site where the skin is damaged or missing. The objective is for the transplanted skin to develop blood vessels and integrate with the surrounding skin.
Applications
A skin graft procedure primarily treats damaged skin resulting from burns, injuries, disease, infection, or post-surgical skin removal after skin cancer treatment. The success and recovery time depend on factors like overall health, graft size, and the surgical technique.
Types of Skin Grafts
Various types of skin grafting procedures are available, each suitable for specific situations:
- Split-thickness Skin Graft (STSG): Involves the transplantation of the epidermis and a part of the dermis. Typically used for large affected areas, the donor skin heals independently within 1-2 weeks.
- Full-thickness Skin Graft (FTSG): Both the epidermis and the entire dermis are transplanted. This procedure requires more healing time due to the thickness of the graft. It is commonly used for areas like the face where aesthetics are considered.
- Composite Graft: This type includes skin and other soft tissues like cartilage used primarily for reconstructing areas such as the nose, fingertips, and ears.
Risks
Although most skin grafts are successful, complications can arise, including:
- Infections or blood pooling under the graft
- Delayed healing, particularly in smokers
- Contracture or discolored and uneven skin
Additional complications may include chronic pain and scar tissue formation around the graft site.
Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21647-skin-graft
