title: Delayed full-thickness grafting of lower leg defects following removal of skin malignancies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Closure of wounds on the lower leg can be difficult. If primary closure of local flap repair cannot be accomplished, grafting is usually the next option. Full-thickness grafts are, generally superior to split-thickness grafts, but may not survive immediate postoperative grafting on the lower leg.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this report is to demonstrate another approach to treatment of lower leg wounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients with lower leg wounds were successfully closed with a delayed full-thickness skin graft.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that delayed full-thickness grafting of the lower extremities may have advantages over other methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Coldiron
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rivera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors