The arm as a skin graft donor site in eyelid reconstruction.

Abstract

To report the technique, success, and complications of using the arm as a donor site for full-thickness skin grafts used in eyelid and facial reconstruction. The charts of 42 patients were reviewed. The arm was used as a donor site for harvesting full-thickness skin grafts in 52 procedures of eyelid or facial reconstruction. The size of skin grafts varied from 4.0 cm2 to 59.5 cm2. There were few recipient site complications: partial necrosis (n=2), severe contraction (n=2), and hair growth (n=4). Donor site complications included wound dehiscence (n=2) and hypertrophic scarring (n=2). The arm is an acceptable donor site for harvesting full-thickness skin grafts for use in eyelid and facial reconstruction when either traditional donor sites are unavailable or a large amount of skin is needed.