The use of thick split thickness grafts from the instep in paediatric hand surgery

In skin grafting the hand restoration of function must always be the priority, but an acceptable appearance is also important and care should be taken in selecting a skin graft that matches the recipient site. The disadvantages of some traditional donor sites are outlined. A clinical study of thick, split-thickness grafts from the instep is described from which it is concluded that a good aesthetic result can be achieved without compromising hand function--but only in children and adolescents among whom there was no donor site morbidity.