title: Clinical application of full-face, whole, full-thickness skin grafting: a case report.
abstract: A considerable portion of burn patients suffers severe full-face burns. Even after they were treated, some severe abnormalities still stay with them such as upper- and lower-eyelid ectropions, upper- and lower-lip ectropions, microstomia and extensive facial scar hyperplasia accompanied with pruritus. Patients suffer a great deal physically, emotionally and socially. Here we conclude our treatment experience of full-face burns with the full-face, whole, full-thickness skin grafting, which has not yet reported in the literature. We transplanted a whole, full-thickness skin graft to cover the wound in the primary operation and then remedied eyelid ectropions and microstomia in the operation that followed. The results of a 4-year-follow-up suggest that the patient has recovered part of facial expression and sensation without any geographic scars. Full-face, whole, full-thickness skin grafting appears to be an effective and relatively simple method for full-face burns that do not respond well to facial composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plastic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, #15 Changlexilu, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
authors.forename: Jian-hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jian-sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Diao
authors.forename: Wen-sen
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous