J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2013 Feb;39(1):21-26. 10.5125/jkaoms.2013.39.1.21.

Full thickness skin grafts from the groin: donor site morbidity and graft survival rate from 50 cases

• Kim S
• Chung SW
• Cha IH

• KMID: 2189557
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5125/jkaoms.2013.39.1.21

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Full thickness skin grafts (FTSG) offer several advantages; they are esthetically superb, have less postoperative shrinkage, and offer minimal postoperative pain and scar formation at the donor site. As a donor site of FTSG, the groin offers a relatively large area of skin with high elasticity. The aim of this study was to evaluate FTSG from the groin for reconstruction in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In a retrospective study, 50 patients (27 males, 23 females) who received FTSG from the groin were evaluated for their operation records, clinical photography, and medical records.
RESULTS
The width of skin from the groin was distributed from 2-8 cm (mean: 5.1 cm) at the donor site, while the long axis length was distributed from 3-13 cm (mean: 7.4 cm). A high number of patients, 47 patients (94%) out of 50, showed good healing at the donor site. Wound impairment was seen in 3 patients (6%), minor wound dehiscence in 2 patients, and severe wound dehiscence in 1 patient. In the recipient site, delayed healing was observed in 2 patients (4%).
CONCLUSION
FTSG from the groin to repair soft tissue defects in reconstruction surgery is a good method due to the relatively big size of the graft, decreasing morbidity at the donor site, and higher graft survival rates.

Keyword

Skin transplantation; Groin; Forearm; Free tissue flaps; Mouth mucosa

MeSH Terms

Axis, Cervical Vertebra
Cicatrix
Elasticity
Forearm
Free Tissue Flaps
Graft Survival
Groin
Humans
Male
Mouth Mucosa
Pain, Postoperative
Photography
Retrospective Studies
Skin
Skin Transplantation
Tissue Donors
Transplants

Figure

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  Fig. 1 A. Construction for skin harvesting on groin, using inguinal crease as the long axis. B. Harvesting thin skin without exposing the underlying fat tissue. C. Neighboring and layer-by-layer suturing of wound margins without undermining. D. Healing status of the donor site 1 month after the surgery.

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  Fig. 2 A. Healing status of the recipient site (oral mucosal defect) 10 days after the surgery. B. Healing status of the recipient site (oral mucosal defect) 2 months after the surgery.

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  Fig. 3 Healing status of the recipient site (donor site of radial forearm free flap) 4 months after the surgery.

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