A simple teaching aid for taking multiple skin grafts with a dermatome

Abstract

Multiple split skin grafts are often required for large wounds such as burns and in necrotizing fascitis. Harvesting multiple skin grafts seamlessly without leaving islands of ‘normal skin’ between adjacent donor sites can be difficult, especially for junior plastic surgery trainees. A seamless donor site helps maximize graft harvest and avoids a ‘patch-work appearance’. We suggest a simple method to avoid this problem when using a three inch Zimmer® dermatome blade.