Free Skin Graft

Free split thickness skin grafts can be used to finish the epithialization of contracting healing wounds. The bed must be properly prepared for grafting. The graft must be very thin so nutrition can diffuse through the granulating bed to the basal epithelial layer for its survival. These cells will provide the epithelial cells that will cover the grafted area. Not the splits in the graft. These are necessary to allow drainage from the bed. Bandaging is important and must be changed regularly and carefully so the graft can "take". It should be noted that grafting over open granulating beds resulting from non-closure of skin from tumor resections if a very difficult issue. Grafting over tumor granulating beds if very disappointing.