Skin Thickness of the Anterior, Anteromedial, and Anterolateral Thigh: A Cadaveric Study for Split-Skin Graft Donor Sites
Archives of Plastic Surgery
;
: 673-678, 2014.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-203558
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The depth of graft harvest and the residual dermis available for reepithelization primarily influence the healing of split-skin graft donor sites. When the thigh region is chosen, the authors hypothesize based on thickness measurements that the anterolateral region is the optimal donor site.METHODS:
Full-thickness skin specimens were sampled from the anteromedial, anterior, and anterolateral regions of human cadavers. Skin specimens were cut perpendicularly with a custom-made precision apparatus to avoid the overestimation of thickness measurements. The combined epidermal and dermal thicknesses (overall skin thickness) were measured using a digital calliper. The specimens were histologically stained to visualize their basement membrane, and microscopy images were captured. Since the epidermal thickness varies across the specimen, a stereological method was used to eliminate observer bias.RESULTS:
Epidermal thickness represented 2.5% to 9.9% of the overall skin thickness. There was a significant difference in epidermal thickness from one region to another (P<0.05). The anterolateral thigh region had the most consistent and highest mean epidermal thickness (60+/-3.2 microm). We observed that overall skin thickness increased laterally from the anteromedial region to the anterior and anterolateral regions of the thigh. The overall skin thickness measured 1,032+/-435 microm in the anteromedial region compared to 1,220+/-257 microm in the anterolateral region.CONCLUSIONS:
Based on skin thickness measurements, the anterolateral thigh had the thickest epidermal and dermal layers. We suggest that the anterolateral thigh region is the optimal donor site for split-skin graft harvests from the thigh.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Skin
/
Thigh
/
Tissue Donors
/
Basement Membrane
/
Cadaver
/
Photomicrography
/
Observer Variation
/
Transplants
/
Dermis
/
Dermatologic Surgical Procedures
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Archives of Plastic Surgery
Year:
2014
Type:
Article
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