title: Novel Local Full-Thickness Skin Grafts for Closure of Free Fibular Osteocutaneous Flap Donor Sites.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The fibular flap donor site after skin paddle harvest is usually covered with abdominal full-thickness skin grafts. However, this kind of skin graft creates an inevitable third operative area and additional esthetic damage. The aim of this report was to present a novel approach to manage fibular donor site defects using a full-thickness skin graft from the adjacent area and avoid further esthetic damage in a third area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen patients underwent mandibular and maxillary defect reconstruction using free fibular osteocutaneous flaps and the fibular donor-site defects were covered with full-thickness skin grafts from the adjacent area. The skin harvesting sites were closed primarily.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The skin donor sites were closed without dehiscence in all cases. Fifteen full-thickness skin grafts survived completely, whereas 2 grafts were partial failures. There were no complete skin graft losses. All fibular osteocutaneous flaps were viable, and the recipient sites had no complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that adjacent full-thickness skin grafts provide a straightforward and reliable technique for closure of the free fibular osteocutaneous flap donor site. The primary advantage of this technique is the avoidance of a third surgical site, an additional surgical scar, and subsequent additional esthetic impairment.
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: sumswangyy@163.com.
authors.forename: You-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Da-Ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000601:surgery; D064592:Autografts / Q000637:transplantation; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000637:transplantation*; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D063175:Mandibular Reconstruction / Q000379:methods; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D060053:Transplant Donor Site / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult