A Comparison of Survival and Secondary Contraction in Expanded Versus Conventional Full-Thickness Skin Grafts: An Experimental Study in Rats

AIM The aim of this experimental study is based on a comparison between the effect of expanded versus nonexpanded full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) on survival and secondary wound contraction. METHODS A total of 20 quadrangular-shaped, full-thickness skin defects with dimensions of 2 × 3 cm were created on the backs of 10 rats. Two groups were specified in this study depending on the coverage of the aforementioned defect areas using expanded versus conventional full-thickness grafts (n = 10 per group). The survival area of each graft and the amount of graft/wound contraction (secondary contraction) were measured by computerized planimetry on days 0, 7, 30, and 90. RESULTS The mean graft areas achieved were 5.8 ± 0.6, 4.2 ± 1.5, and 1.2 ± 1.1 cm(2) (P < .001) in the expanded FTSGs group and 5.3 ± 0.9, 3.3 ± 1.3, and 0.98 ± 0.8 cm(2) (P < .001) in the nonexpanded FTSGs group on days 7, 30, and 90, respectively. Graft area reductions (secondary contraction) were 1.7 ± 0.9 and 2.1 ± 1.2 cm(2) (P = .8) on day 30 and 2.1 ± 1.3 and 2.86 ± 0.8 cm(2) (P = .3) on day 90 in the expanded and nonexpanded groups, respectively. CONCLUSION According to this study, FTSGs that were harvested from tissue expansion revealed biological behaviors that were comparable with those of conventional grafts.