[De-epidermized free skin graft in the treatment of eventrations and hernias]

The study investigated the efficiency of the non-epidermic free skin graft in the treatment of eventration and of hernia. It includes an experimental and a clinical stage. The experimental study investigated the biological integration of the autograft and of histological changes that take place. The authors attempted to determine the optimal site for the insertion of the graft between the parietal anatomic layers, as well as to evaluate their role as a prosthesis. The experiments demonstrated a perfect integration of the dermal auto-graft, as well as the new solidity that it will impart to the wall. The non-epidermic free skin graft was used over a period of 15 years (1964--1978) in a total of 134 patients. The use of the dermic graft is simple from the technical viewpoint, and the post-operative morbidity is not significant. A retrospective clinical study was carried out in 62 patients over a period of 1 to 12 years. Only two relapses were noted (3,2 percent of the total). In the remaining cases the abdominal wall was very solid and there was no sign of eventration.