title: An Additional Option for Split-Thickness Skin Graft Donors: The Previous Free Flap Sites.
abstract: Free flap reconstruction is the best choice for soft-tissue defect. However, there are often accompanying problems such as partial flap loss, donor-site skin problems, and loss of previous skin grafts surrounding the flap site. This is especially true when dealing with multiple trauma, complex defects, and large skin flaps. Because of the simplicity of the procedure involved, split-thickness skin grafts are usually used for reconstructing skin and soft-tissue defects. These are also a good choice when there is a need for further procedures because of defects from several potential causes. Pain and the loss of healthy donor tissue are major concerns in such operations. Hence, we thought that the previous skin flap area might be a good alternative area for split-thickness skin grafts accompanying procedures subsequent to free flap reconstruction. Because this donor area is no longer sensitive, local anesthesia can be used during harvesting, and there is no loss of healthy donor tissue. Therefore, this procedure is an economical means of obtaining tissue for soft-tissue reconstruction. We describe 9 examples of flap reconstruction done in this way and suggest that this is a useful option for donor site.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University, College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, and †Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Wha
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Hyup
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jeong Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youn Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome