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. 2013 Feb;39(1):21-6.
doi: 10.5125/jkaoms.2013.39.1.21. Epub 2013 Feb 21.

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

Somi Kim  1 , Seung-Won Chung  1 , In-Ho Cha  2
Affiliations

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

Somi Kim et al. J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2013 Feb.

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.

Keywords: Forearm; Free tissue flaps; Groin; Mouth mucosa; Skin transplantation.

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Figures

Fig. 1
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.
Fig. 2
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.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Healing status of the recipient site (donor site of radial forearm free flap) 4 months after the surgery.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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