Complications Involved in Various Surgical Techniques

Abstract

Postoperative complications, such as peripheral hypopigmentation, delayed hyperpigmentation, milia, inclusion cysts, achromic fissures, thick margins, stuck-on appearance, are quite common with split thickness skin grafts (STSG). In the recipient site, cobblestone appearance was the predominant complication in punch grafts, whereas, hyperpigmenta-tion and thickening of grafts were common in suction blister epidermal grafts (STSG-BE). The color match was statistically significant in punch grafts, when compared to STSG-BE. Time taken for satisfactory color match with thin split-thickness skin graft is about 4–9 months. Punch grafts give a better color match than STSG-BE. Slight hyperpigmentation is common, especially when ultra thin split thickness graft (STSG-UT) has been used. No scars or indurations were seen in the donor areas in case of ultra thin split thickness graft.