[Split thickness skin graft for coverage of soft tissue defects]

Coverage of skin or soft tissue defects of various sizes by transplantation of spit thickness skin grafts.

Skin or soft tissue defects of any size or location as long as there is a good blood supply to the wound bed.

Wound bed providing poor blood supply (e.g., tendon or bone), vessels or nerve without soft tissue coverage, any kind of implant material which is not covered by vital soft tissue. Relative contraindications include defect position at the flexion side of joints or other mechanically stressed locations (e.g., heel, neck) and local infection.

By meticulous debridement of the recipient site and coagulation of venous bleedings, the recipient site is prepared for skin grafting. Thereafter, the split thickness skin graft is harvested and, if necessary, modified by the meshing procedure. Then, the skin graft is placed in the defect and fixated at the wound margins. To promote healing, a special compression dressing is used to cover the split thickness skin graft. In case of uneventful wound healing, this dressing should be left in place for 5 days.

After removal of the compression dressing, daily changes are done using double layers of fatty gauze, alternated with periods without dressing. In the case of uneventful healing, the skin transplant can be covered starting in week 2 with a thin film of cream ointment.

Split thickness skin grafting is a routine maneuver in reconstructive surgery and allows predictable, good results. Partial skin graft losses are mostly due to a combination of inadequate debridement and local infection. If the operation in done technically correct, total graft losses are rare.