Background: Large nonhealing ulcers and wounds frequently pose a great therapeutic challenge to clinicians and often require skin grafting. Various skin grafting methods are available to cover large skin defects that fail to epithelize. These methods include the use of small pinch grafts, full-thickness punch grafts, large-sized full-thickness grafts and split-thickness grafts. Large-sized full-thickness and split-thickness skin grafting requires expertise to produce cosmetically acceptable results and prevent cobblestoning, unlike small pinch and full-thickness punch grafts.
Objectives: To describe a modified technique of split-thickness skin grafting that can be considerably faster than alternative methods.
Methods: We describe a method for split-thickness skin grafting using tumescent anaesthesia at the donor site and an electrodermatome and a polyurethane membrane without sutures at the site of the skin defect.
Results: Since 1997, we have practised a modified, improved, quick and easy split-thickness skin grafting method to cover large skin defects at the extremities. Complete healing is usually achieved 4-6 weeks after the split-thickness skin transplantation, and long-term results are aesthetically successful.
Conclusions: We provide a sophisticated modified split-thickness skin graft procedure that has been practised for many years and provides cosmetically acceptable results while saving time.
© 2011 The Authors. BJD © 2011 British Association of Dermatologists.