ABSTRACT
Millions of reconstructive procedures are performed each year to address a variety of defects (American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2010). Within the reconstructive armamentarium are techniques spanning from simple closure to complex, composite tissue transplantation moving skin, fat, muscle, and bone from one part of the body to another. This involves revascularization of the blood supply of the transferred tissues and is associated with additional site of surgery (donor site) with its own complications and pain. While the current techniques of reconstruction are relatively reliable, they are not without limitation. Thus, there continues to be aggressive investigation into tissue-engineered constructs in many clinical applications.
