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Postarticular skin effective as donor site for split-thickness skin grafts

Postarticular skin was an effective donor site for small- to moderate-sized split-thickness skin grafts for patients after Mohs micrographic surgery, according to study results.

Researchers conducted a study with a cohort of 39 Mohs micrographic surgery patients from a private practice database in Houston who had 41 surgical defects repaired with split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) between January 2008 and January 2013. The Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was applied to quantify scars resulting from postarticular site harvesting. Patients were then divided into subgroups based on the duration of their follow-up.

Among the 15 patients with 16 surgical postarticular donor sites followed for at least 6 months, the average VSS score was 1.87. In seven patients followed for 3 to 6 months, the average VSS score was 3, and in 18 patients followed for 6 to 11 weeks, the average VSS score was 1.61.

Mild hypertrophic scarring was experienced by four patients; however, these cases resolved spontaneously or following intralesional triamcinolone injections (10 mg/mL), according to the researchers.

Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.