How thick should a split-thickness skin graft be?
Split-thickness skin grafts are composed of full-thickness epidermis and partial-thickness dermis, and they most commonly range in thickness between 0.015 inches and 0.20 inches. They provide ample donor tissue with very good pliability, thus lending themselves to cover large defects with complex topography.
What are the 3 types of skin grafts?
There are different types of grafts according to their origin, thickness and form. There are 3 main types of graftsthat are used to cover wounds: Split-thickness skin grafts, full-thickness skin grafts and composite grafts. Each of them has specific indication and has a unique technique for harvesting.
What are the 4 types of skin grafts?
Depending on the origin:
- Autograft or autologous graft: skin obtained from the patient’s own donor site.
- Allograft or heterologous graft: skin obtained from another person.
- Xenograft or heterograft: skin from other species, such as pigs.
- Synthetic skin substitutes: manufactured products that work as skin equivalents.
What is the difference between split-thickness and full thickness skin graft?
Split-thickness skin grafts (STSG) are composed of the epidermis and a superficial part of the dermis. Full-thickness skin grafts (FTSG) contain both the full epidermis and dermis. Composite grafts contain skin and another type of tissue, usually cartilage.
How thick is a full thickness skin graft?
A full-thickness skin graft is a fully detached piece of skin taken from one body area and placed over a wound elsewhere. It consists of the full thickness of the epidermis and dermis layers of skin.
What causes a skin graft to fail?
The most common cause of graft failure is movement, which dissociates any new blood vessel growth (neovascularization) into the graft, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. This complication causes fluid collection between the graft and the graft site bed (hematoma or seroma), further separating the graft from the bed.
What is a full-thickness skin graft?
Full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) consist of complete epidermis and dermis, whereas partial-thickness skin grafts (PTSG) include the entire epidermis and only partial dermis. One should try to match, as closely as possible, the skin at the recipient site.
What is the best type of skin graft?
Doctors often use full-thickness grafts for small wounds on highly visible parts of the body, such as the face. Unlike split-thickness grafts, full-thickness grafts blend in with the skin around them and tend to have a better cosmetic outcome.
When do you use full thickness vs split graft?
The split-thickness technique is used to cover large areas, which makes it ideal for the legs. Full-thickness skin grafts are usually reserved for smaller areas, such as the face and hands, because they blend better with the surrounding skin.
What is the most common cause of skin graft failure?
The most common reason for skin graft failure is hematoma beneath the graft. Similarly, seroma formation may prevent graft adherence to the underlying wound bed, preventing the graft from receiving the necessary nourishment, as detailed above.
When do you need a full thickness skin graft?
People with deeper tissue loss may need a full-thickness skin graft. This requires the entire thickness of skin from the donor site, not just the top two layers.
What is full thickness?
Full-Thickness – A full-Thickness wound indicates that damage extends below the epidermis and dermis (all layers of the skin) into the subcutaneous tissue or beyond (into muscle, bone, tendons, etc.). 3.