Introduction:
When a patient has a severe burn or the skin is unable to repair itself, doctors often use a method of skin grafting to help the skin recover. The scientific breakthrough of skin grafts is revolutionary, as it goes into the field of anatomy and how the body responds to skin graphs. In this article we will go over the discovery of skin grafts, how it is performed and what are some possible complications when undergoing this procedure.
Discovery:
Skin grafts surprise us with their history dating back to ancient times when similar procedures like skin grafting were performed. However, due to their lack of technology and knowledge about Anatomy, it was performed very scarcely. Not until the late 19th century did we perfect the technique of skin grafting. The process was called split-thickness skin grafts also known as STSG. Along with similar full-thickness skin grafts (FTSG).
The Science Behind Skin Grafts:
Both STSG and FTSG contain the full epidermis but the true difference is how much of the dermis it contains. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin which is also the thinnest layer of the skin. The dermis is the thickest layer of the skin and is the main part of the graph. The dermis houses collagen and elastin which is crucial for the skin to heal. The dermis also contains many fibroblasts that contribute to the healing process of the procedure. When harvesting a skin graft, you must run it through a machine called Dermatomes that transforms the skin into a weblike structure. To increase the amount of skin it can cover and leave room for the new skin to grow with the graft.
Complications:
Though the skin graft has proved to be very useful, there are always downsides to such a procedure. Graft failure is one of them where a patient might not have enough blood to provide the graph, and may lead to infection of the site. A patient might need to undergo immunosuppressive drugs in the case of the body rejecting the graft. These issues may be avoided with more in-depth donor assessment along with proactive care of the graft site.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, the science of skin grafts is a testament to the innovative spirit of modern medicine. As researchers continue to discover the potential of skin grafting. They are simply a stepping stone as we move forward to further our knowledge on regeneration in the human body.
References
professional, Cleveland Clinic medical. “Epidermis (Outer Layer of Skin): Layers, Function, Structure.” Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21901-epidermis. Accessed 28 Jan. 2024.
Stang, Debra. “Skin Graft: Purpose, Types, and Procedure.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 28 Jan. 2022, www.healthline.com/health/skin-graft.
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