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Skin Grafting. By: Megan French. The Skin. The skin is the largest organ of the body 3 main layers : Epidermis, Dermis, Subcutaneous Regulates body temperature It protects the body from external agents and potentially deadly infections . What is Skin Grafting.
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Skin Grafting By: Megan French
The Skin • The skin is the largest organ of the body • 3 main layers : Epidermis, Dermis, Subcutaneous • Regulates body temperature • It protects the body from external agents and potentially deadly infections
What is Skin Grafting • A skin graft is a patch of skin that is removed by surgery from one area of the body and transplanted, or attached, to another area. • Often skin will be taken from unaffected areas on the injured person and used to cover a defect, often a burn. • Skin may be meshed to stretch it into a larger patch • Taking the graft from the injured person makes rejection of the tissue unlikely.
History • In the 19th century physicians developed methods to transplant skin from one place on the body to another • Covering an open non healing wound decreases the amount of time that the wound is exposed to bacterial micro organisms.
Harvest Site Most often skin for a skin graft is taken from the persons thigh or buttocks
Incision • Skin taken using a dermatome • The patient is under either a local anesthesia or general anesthesia
Procedure • Skin grafts will not take on exposed bone, tendon or an infected wound
Post Surgery • Usually heal with little scarring • Successfully protects the body from infection and bacteria • The donor area heals on its own within 2-3 weeks
Complications • Failure, or non-take • Color difference • Contraction • Meshed appearance • Dryness, scaling etc
References • http://www.google.com/imgres?q=skin+graft&h • http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/265808/enlarge • All pictures used from Google Images for education purposed only • http://www.burnsurvivor.com/surgical_procedure_skingrafts.html • Mackay DR, Miraliakbari R, eds. Skin grafts. Operative Techniques in General Story. December 2006; 8(4);197-206. • Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic SurgeryVolume 63, Issue 2, February 2010, Pages 360-364 • Ann Plast Surg. 1988 Oct;21(4):358-65.