About this topic
You have an area of skin that has been badly damaged from a large burn, wound, or deep sore. Your doctor will attach a patch of skin to this part of your body to help it heal. You may need to have skin replaced after certain surgeries. You may have to stay in the hospital for this kind of surgery. Other times, your doctor will do the surgery and let you go back home later the same day. ‚
The patch of skin is called a graft. The doctor removes the skin for the graft from another part of your body. This area is called a donor site. Areas for donor sites may be the inside of the upper leg or buttocks. The skin below the collar bone, around the ear, or the upper arm may also be used as a donor site. Other human skin, pig skin, or man-made tissue may be used for skin grafts. ‚
Your doctor will talk to you about the type of skin graft you need based on your wound. ‚
There are three main types of skin grafts: ‚
- Split-thickness graft ¢ ˆ ’ Removal of the top layers of skin. It allows the donor site to heal quickly. The graft may be made into a mesh. This mesh allows the skin to cover a larger site.
- Full-thickness graft ¢ ˆ ’ Removal and transfer of skin including blood vessels. The donor site needs stitches to heal. This is most often done when the face is affected.
- Composite graft ¢ ˆ ’ Skin and fat, skin and cartilage, or middle layer skin and fat are removed for this graft. It is used in an area that needs to be shaped, like the nose.
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your graft site and donor site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages. You may need to wear the bandage for 1 to 2 weeks.
- How to clean and care for your wounds
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
- Wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressings.
- Protect your skin graft from being bumped, stretched, or hit.
- Protect your skin from sunlight. Wear sunscreen whenever you go outside.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. Take care not to pull on stitches or staples.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Prevent infection
Will physical activity be limited?
Your activity may be limited based on where the graft is located. You may have to limit movement to the area where your graft was placed. Talk with your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Bleeding
- Slow healing of the graft skin
- Infection
- Numbness of the skin
- Scarring
- Skin discoloration
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the wound.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my skin graft.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have swelling, redness, or warmth around my wound.
Where can I learn more?
Better Health Channel ‚
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Burns ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚