Free skin grafting

Free skin grafts involve the transfer of variable thicknesses of dermis, with the epidermis, from a donor site to the recipient wound site. In veterinary wound management, grafts are exclusively autografts (i.e. donor and recipient are the same patient). Free grafts find occasional application in the reconstruction of full-thickness skin defects involving the extremities of the dog and cat. However, by comparison with other reconstruction techniques has a number of limitations. Indications for skin grafting; How skin grafts ‘take’; Harvesting the graft; Preparing the graft; Recipient sites; Applying the graft; Care of the graft; Interpreting graft appearance; The functional and cosmetic result; and Troubleshooting are all covered. Case examples: Free skin grafting for a chronic open wound; and Free skin grafting for a burn wound.