A qualitative histological assessment of various storage conditions on short term preservation of human split skin grafts

Abstract

This paper provides a qualitative description of the histological appearances and changes occurring in human split skin grafts stored at 4 degrees C in various configurations over a 4-week period. During the storage time, changes were seen in all layers of the epidermis and dermis. The most notable early features were nuclear and cellular swelling and pleomorphism. After 7 days nuclear and cellular shrinkage, halo formation and pyknosis became evident. The most worrying histological feature was the development of dermo-epidermal blebs. These were evident by day 7 and progressed to cleavage of, and ultimately complete separation of, the epidermis from the dermis.A comparison of these features in human split skin grafts stored as sheets or meshed 1(1)(2):1, stored either rolled or flat, at either strictly or roughly 4 degrees C revealed differences. We conclude that the viability of stored skin is improved if it is stored at a uniform 4 degrees C as rolled sheets.