The skin is the largest organ of the human body.

A protective barrier preventing internal tissues from

exposure to trauma, radiation ,temperature changes , and infection

Thermoregulation , through sweating and

vasoconstriction / vasodilatation

 The epidermis constitutes about 5% of the skin, and

the remaining 95% is dermis.

Representing approximately 16% of the total body

weight.
The skin consists of two main layers:

- The outer layer or epidermis, is derived from ectoderm - The thicker inner layer, or dermis, is derived from mesoderm.

 Skin varies in thickness in different parts of the body;

it is thickest on the palms and soles of the feet, and thinnest on the eyelids.
In general, men have thicker skin than women, and

adults have thicker skin than children.

After age 50, however, the skin begins to grow thinner

again as it loses its elastic fibers and some of its fluid content.

 Use of skin grafts and flaps provides:

accelerated healing of burns and other wounds reduction of scar contracture enhancement of cosmesis reduction of insensible fluid loss protection from bacterial invasion

 A skin graft is a procedure in which healthy skin is

removed (harvested) and transferred to another area of the body

Where the skin has been severely damaged by burns,

injury, or surgery.
New cells grow from the graft, covering the damaged

area with fresh skin.

 Full-thickness skin graft (FTSG)

Entire thickness of the dermis is included

Partial or split-thickness skin graft (STSG)

Less than the entire thickness of the dermis is included Split-thickness skin grafts are further categorized based onthe thickness of graft harvested : Thin (0.005-0.012 inches), Intermediate (0.012-0.018 inches), or Thick (0.018-0.030 inches)

 According to biologic relationships :

- Autogenous grafts or autografts comes from the same individual - Heterogenous grafts comes from sourcesother than the patient himself

Full-Thickness Skin Graft (FTSG)

Two months post-op Six months post-op

 Split-thickness skin grafts may be harvested from any

surface of the body. Most times, it is an area that is hidden by clothes, such as the buttock or inner thigh.
Full-thickness grafts may be harvested from

upper eyelid nasolabial fold pre-and postauricular regions supraclavicular fossa

 The most critical component of successful skin

grafting is preparation of the recipient site.

Physiologic conditions must be optimized to

acceptand nourish the graft.

Skin grafts will not survive on tissue without

bloodsupply.

 The wound also must be free of necrotic tissue and

relatively uncontaminated by bacteria.

 A skin flap is similar to a graft in that a transplantation

of tissue occurs.
The essential difference between the two is that a flap

exists on its own blood supply.

This means that much larger amounts of tissue can be

transported, including muscle if required.

 Based on distance in relation to the defect Local flap Raised from tissue immediately adjacent to or very

close to the primary defect

Distant flaps Tissues moved at a distance from the primary defect

 Based on composition
Simple

Skin and some subcutaneous tissue

Compound

Carries another tissue such as bone and cartilage

 Based on blood supply Random pattern flap Derives its nutrition from the dermal-subdermal

plexus
Microvascular free flap Taken free from other parts of the body preserving its

blood supply, and anastomosed to the available blood supplyin the recipient area

 Neovascularization of the flap usuallyoccurs 3-7 days

after transfer.

 Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap (PMMF)

Deltopectoral Flap
Trapezius Flap Latissimus Dorsi Flap

Sternocleidomastoid Flap
Forehead Flap

 A skin graft is used to permanently replace damaged or

missing skin or to provide a temporary wound covering. This covering is necessary because the skin protects the body from fluid loss, aids in temperature regulation, and helps prevent disease-causing bacteria or viruses from entering the body. Skin that is damaged extensively by burns or nonhealing wounds can compromise the health and wellbeing of the patient.

 Areas where there has been infection that caused a large

amount of skin loss Burns Cosmetic reasons or reconstructive surgeries where there has been skin damage or skin loss Skin cancer surgery Surgeries that need skin grafts to heal Venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, or diabetic ulcers that do not heal Very large wounds When the surgeon is unable to close a wound properly

 Risks for any anesthesia are:

Reactions to medicines
Problems with breathing

 Risks for this surgery are:

Bleeding
Chronic pain (rarely) Infection Loss of grafted skin (the graft not healing, or the graft

healing slowly) Reduced or lost skin sensation, or increased sensitivity Scarring Skin discoloration Uneven skin surface

 Once a skin graft has been put in place, it must be

maintained carefully even after it has healed.

Grafts on other areas of the body should be similarly

supported after healing to decrease the amount of contracture.

 Grafted skin does not contain sweat or oil glands, and

should be lubricated daily for two to three months with mineral oil or another bland oil to prevent drying and cracking.
The severe pain and lengthy period of recovery

involved in burn treatment are often accompanied by anxiety and depression

 If the patient's burns occurred in combat, a

transportation disaster, terrorist attack, or other fire involving large numbers of people, he or she is at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Doctors treating the survivors of a nightclub fire in Rhode Island in February 2003 gave them anti-anxiety medications within a few days of the tragedy in order to reduce the risk of PTSD.

 The length of time required for a skin graft or flap

varies enormously depending on the type, size and situation. A simple split skin graft may take less than an hour, whilst a complicated free flap could last as long as 10 or 12 hours.

 Surgical Therapy

Several methods and materials have been used in

harvesting and securing skin grafts; procedures for STSGs and FTSGs vary substantially.
The procedures

also vary among surgeons and circumstances; variations in the tools and techniques of graft harvesting, placement, and care are discussed in Intraoperative details.

 No specific preoperative evaluation is unique to skin

grafting.
As

with all dermatologic surgery, thorough preoperative history taking is critical ; the history should include information about the patient's medications (particularly those with anticoagulant properties), allergies, bleeding diatheses, frequent or recurrent infections, and general wound healing.

 Postoperative trauma to the area caused by patient

activities (particularly those involving shearing forces), the patient's ability to care for the wounds (at both the donor and recipient sites), and the surgeon's assessment of the patient's expectations.

 Complications include :

Death of the grafted tissue (graft failure)

Collection of fluid (seroma) or blood (hematoma)

under the graft, which interferes with the regrowth of blood vessels, and Infection of the donor site or the wound (recipient) site.