FULL-THICKNESS SKIN-GRAFTING OF POSTSURGICAL ORAL DEFECTS - SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM OUTCOMES

Purpose: This study evaluated the use of full-thickness skin grafts (F TSGs) following excision of precancerous and cancerous oral lesions. M aterials and Methods: Fourteen oral lesions, including five leukoplaki as, one carcinoma in situ, two verrucous carcinomas, and six squamous cell carcinomas with varying grade of keratinization and invasion were skin grafted after excision. The size of the graft ranged from 16 x 2 2 mm to 40 x 50 mm, and the fixation period was 8 to 13 days. The graf ts were evaluated for necrosis as a short-term result and shrinkage an d recurrence of the lesion as long-term results. Results: Three cases with more than moderate necrosis of the grafted skin were observed (21 .4%), Shrinkage was observed in 23% of the 14 skin grafts and tumor re currence was observed in three FTSGs (2 patients). Conclusions: The re sults suggest that the paucity of the blood supply in the grafted bed, and the uneven pressure and immobilization of the grafted skin, influ ence the success of the procedure, and that proper case selection is n ecessary.