ABSTRACT
A skin graft is skin transferred from one location to another on the same individual. It consists of the entire epidermis and a variable thickness of dermis. This chapter presents the histological difference between a full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) and a split-thickness skin graft (STSG). It provides the advantages and disadvantages of each type of graft. A full-thickness graft consists of the epidermis and the entire thickness of the dermis. A split-thickness graft consists of the whole epidermis but a variable amount of the dermis. More characteristics of the donor skin are maintained with full-thickness skin grafts because more collagen content, dermal vascular plexuses and epithelial appendages are contained within the thicker graft. Full-thickness skin grafts shows less contraction at the graft site, and better cosmesis. Split-thickness skin grafts cover large areas and less likely to fail. Split-thickness skin grafts may be harvested from any surface of the body.
