title: Methods in obtaining split-thickness skin grafts from skin reduction surgery specimens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To devise a method for obtaining bacterial culture-negative split-thickness skin grafts from specimens removed from living donors undergoing skin reduction surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens were obtained from patients undergoing abdominal skin reduction surgery in inpatient and outpatient surgical settings. Skin specimens were cleaned in a method adapted from the former Yale Skin Bank's methods. The specimens were attached to the autoclave container for the dermatome using towel clips or sutures to provide tension. Normal saline clysis was injected subdermally and a Padgett Electric Dermatome was used to obtain skin grafts. These were then photographed and discarded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight specimens were obtained from seven women and one man. The mean age was 46.6 years and mean weight at time of surgery was 87.7 kg. Bacterial cultures obtained from all specimens were negative. All procured grafts were transparent, with visible dermis, suggesting that they could be used in a clinical setting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bacterial culture-negative split-thickness skin grafts can be obtained from skin reduction surgery specimens, offering a potential source of split-thickness allograft during regional or national shortages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale-New Haven Medical Center, 464 Congress Avenue, Ste. 260, New Haven, CT 06519 USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Bruccoleri
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, One Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, NH 03750 USA.
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Matthew
authors.affiliation: Sumner Redstone Burn Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02115 USA.
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Schulz
keywords: Abdominoplasty; Dermatome; Living donor; Skin graft