ABSTRACT
A variety of stents are used to immobilize skin grafts and to hold them firmly to the recipient site. Stents are thought to reduce shearing forces. The external pressure enhances cooaptation of the graft to the recipient bed and minimizes accumulation of blood or serum beneath the graft. Historically, grafts have been held in place with various dressings, including adhesive plasters (1), transparent isinglass (1), varnish plaster (1), tinfoil (1), greased lint (2), paraffin (3), damp marine sponges (4), inflated toy balloons (4), ‘‘pressure bags’’ (5), wax molds (4), and Silastic foam molds (6).
