The arm as a skin graft donor site in eyelid reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To report the technique, success, and complications of using the arm as a donor site for full-thickness skin grafts used in eyelid and facial reconstruction.


METHODS
The charts of 42 patients were reviewed. The arm was used as a donor site for harvesting full-thickness skin grafts in 52 procedures of eyelid or facial reconstruction.


RESULTS
The size of skin grafts varied from 4.0 cm2 to 59.5 cm2. There were few recipient site complications: partial necrosis (n=2), severe contraction (n=2), and hair growth (n=4). Donor site complications included wound dehiscence (n=2) and hypertrophic scarring (n=2).


CONCLUSIONS
The arm is an acceptable donor site for harvesting full-thickness skin grafts for use in eyelid and facial reconstruction when either traditional donor sites are unavailable or a large amount of skin is needed.
Custer
P L
PL
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Custer@vision.wustl.edu
Harvey
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm; D005143:Eyelids / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting