Skin-Fat Composite Grafts for Reconstructing Large Full-Thickness Skin Defects. 2023

Young Chul Jang, and Jin Sik Burm, and Jae Young Cho
From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Hangang Soo Hospital.

The uppermost layer of subcutaneous tissue has a rich vascular network, the subdermal plexus and multiple perforating vessels in the interlobular septa. When skin-fat composite grafts (SFCGs) include this uppermost layer, they can be readily vascularized to enhance survival. The authors describe their clinical experience with large SFCG transplantations. This retrospective study included patients who underwent SFCG transplantation for large, full-thickness skin defects, formed after burn scar contracture or contraction deformity excision. The recipient tissue bed was prepared by retaining the deepest layer of scar tissue or reticular dermis to preserve the interlobular septa, subdermal plexus, and ascending arterioles above the subcutaneous tissue. The SFCG was prepared by trimming fat lobules and preserving the interlobular septa and vessels to form a 1- to 4-mm-thick base of subdermal fat tissue. The trimmed SFCG was placed onto the defective tissue and secured with a tie-over dressing. Among 86 grafts, 76 (88.4%) survived completely (sizes, 6 to 161 cm 2 ; mean surface area, 68.7cm 2 ). Focal skin sloughing or graft loss occurred in 10 cases. These events were followed by spontaneous healing in eight cases. Focal hypertrophic scars formed in six cases. In 15 cases, hyperpigmentation occurred, but improved gradually. Most transplantations achieved satisfactory pliability (93.0%), contour (90.7%), and color (88.4%). SFCGs survived better than expected with minimal complications, probably because of the preservation of rich vascular networks in both the recipient and SFCG tissues. Therefore, SFCG transplantation may be a good option for reconstructing full-thickness skin defects with a large surface area. Therapeutic, IV.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002056 Burns Injuries to tissues caused by contact with heat, steam, chemicals (BURNS, CHEMICAL), electricity (BURNS, ELECTRIC), or the like. Burn
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D012867 Skin The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.
D014945 Wound Healing Restoration of integrity to traumatized tissue. Healing, Wound,Healings, Wound,Wound Healings
D016038 Skin Transplantation The grafting of skin in humans or animals from one site to another to replace a lost portion of the body surface skin. Dermatoplasty,Grafting, Skin,Transplantation, Skin,Dermatoplasties,Graftings, Skin,Skin Grafting,Skin Graftings,Skin Transplantations,Transplantations, Skin
D017439 Cicatrix, Hypertrophic An elevated scar, resembling a KELOID, but which does not spread into surrounding tissues. It is formed by enlargement and overgrowth of cicatricial tissue and regresses spontaneously. Scars, Hypertrophic,Cicatrices, Hypertrophic,Hypertrophic Cicatrices,Hypertrophic Cicatrix,Hypertrophic Scar,Hypertrophic Scars,Scar, Hypertrophic

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