Overview

A skin graft is the transplant of healthy skin from one site of a patient’s body to another. It is used to heal wounds that cannot be closed, or when healing by secondary intention is likely to cause loss of function or prominent scars. Two types of skin grafts are generally used: split thickness skin grafts and full thickness skin grafts.

Split thickness skin grafts contain the epidermis and varying amounts of dermis. The transplanted tissue has sufficient deep dermis to enable angiogenesis. Donor sites include medial or lateral thigh, buttocks, posterior or anterior trunk and upper arm. Split thickness skin graft donor sites heal by secondary intention.

Full thickness skin grafts contain the entire dermis. These are often used where avascular tissue is exposed (eg tendon or bone, on the face or hands, over joints). Full thickness skin grafts do not contract as much as split thickness skin grafts because they contain more collagen. Donor sites include postauricular, preauricular, supraclavicular, upper eyelid, scalp and inguinal areas. Full thickness skin graft donor sites heal by primary intention.

Other types of grafting may be used in specialist settings.