Second and third-degree burn injuries are the most likely to require skin grafting. In addition, injuries that are larger than two centimeters may need grafting.
What Degrees of Burn Injury Need Skin Grafting?
The most serious types of burn injuries—second-degree and third-degree burns—cannot heal damaged cells on their own. Minor burns, called first-degree burns, can heal on their own, over time, and with proper care. However, second and third-degree burns are the deepest, penetrating to the lower layers of skin. When burns reach these levels, they cannot heal or rebuild, making skin grafting necessary.
Burn Injuries and Skin Grafting
Skin grafting for burn injuries means removing the dead and damaged tissue and replacing it with new skin tissue. The implanted skin tissue receives blood flow and becomes part of the body in its new location.
Ideally, skin grafting is done with the person’s own skin taken from another part of the body.
Depending on the area injured and healthy tissue available for use, it may not be possible to use the person’s skin. However, there are cadaver donors, animal products, and synthetic materials that can be used for skin grafting.
Causes of burn injury that may make skin grafting necessary include the following:
- Flame, fire
- Heat
- Electricity, electrical current
- Steam
- Hot liquids
- Corrosive chemicals
- Blast, explosion
Understanding Different Degrees of Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are categorized by degree—first, second, and third degree. The degree of burn indicates whether grafting is likely to be appropriate for a patient.
First degree
First-degree burns are the least serious burns. Only the epidermis, or outer layer of skin, is affected.
A person can usually self-treat a first-degree burn by cooling it, applying ointments, applying dressings, and protecting it from further damage. Over-the-counter medications may manage pain.
Scars can occur if a burn isn’t treated properly or if additional trauma occurs. First-degree burns often heal on their own.
Second degree
Second-degree burns damage both the epidermis and the dermis, which is the second layer of skin.
A person may experience blistering, swelling, and discoloration. Peeling skin may appear.
Second-degree burns are caused by more intense injury or by being exposed to the source of injury for a significant period of time. A second-degree burn may vary in treatment needs. Sometimes, a patient can treat themselves at home. Other times, a second-degree burn may be serious enough to require a skin graft.
Third degree
Third-degree burns destroy the three layers of skin. They may penetrate further to fat and muscles, and scars are likely to occur. A person is likely to experience significant pain. If nerves have been damaged, they may not feel pain at all.
A third-degree burn is disclosed in appearance and may look white, gray, black, brown, or yellow.
They often look leathery or waxy.
Another measurement of how serious a burn is is how much of the body it covers. TBSA stands for total body surface area burned.
What is Skin Grafting? How Does It Work?
Skin grafting is the surgical transfer of skin from one part of the body to another damaged part of the body. Surgeons move healthy skin and replant it in a place where the skin is injured.
When the person’s own tissue is used, skin is moved from one part of the body to another.
Using the person’s own tissue is preferred because the chance of the body rejecting the tissue is low. The place where the skin is taken from is called the donor site.
Is skin grafting a medical or cosmetic procedure?
Skin grafting is usually done for medical reasons, but it can also have cosmetic benefits. The procedure can close a large wound, promoting healing. It can help the body heal better and faster. In addition, it can prevent deformity and result in a more normal appearance. All of these are important goals when treating a patient with burn injury.
The Skin Grafting Procedure: What To Expect
Healthcare providers will determine if skin grafting is medically appropriate. The timing of the procedure is often an important consideration because timely grafting can improve patient outcomes.
Dead tissue must be removed. Sometimes, a person will have multiple surgeries.
Usually, the person is placed under general anesthesia, which means they are completely asleep. The surgeon uses a tool to harvest donor skin. Then, surgeons make tiny holes or crosscuts in the skin to be transplanted. This allows the skin to stretch over a larger area. The skin is implanted in the injured area.
After surgery, the patient must be monitored. Both surgical sites must be appropriately dressed, and pain management will be necessary.
Eventually, the skin should heal, as the body will transport oxygen and nutrients to the new skin, and new blood vessels will grow.
Where does the skin come from?
Parts of the body that may be a donor site for skin grafting include:
- Thighs
- Buttocks
- Stomach
- Back
- Groin
- Arm
- Collar bone
Split-thickness and full-thickness skin grafting
Depending on the injury, surgeons may use split-thickness or full-thickness skin grafting. Split thickness harvests only the epidermis. In a full-thickness skin graft, the top and entire second layer of skin are removed.
A full-thickness graft may be appropriate when the area is visible to others, such as the face or hands. Thicker grafts may result in better outcomes, both in function and appearance. However, they may not be necessary for an individual patient.
In addition to these types of grafting, a composite graft may be used. Composite grafting uses skin, cartilage, and soft tissue. A composite graft may be appropriate for the nose, fingertips, and ears.
Risks and Complications Associated with Skin Grafting
Like any medical procedure, there are risks. Complications may include bleeding and infection.
In a small number of cases, the graft is unsuccessful. A person may still have scars. Complications and outcomes will vary.
Recovery and Rehabilitation After a Skin Graft
Recovery and rehabilitation should include proper dressings and monitoring. Patient pain should be addressed.
Contact an Experienced Gastonia Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured in a personal injury accident or suffered a workplace injury, contact us.
Talk to an experienced Gastonia personal injury lawyer. Contact Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys today.
