The arm as a skin graft donor site in eyelid reconstruction

Purpose: To report the technique, success, and complications of using the a rm as a donor site for full-thickness skin grafts used in eyelid and facial reconstruction. Methods: The charts of 42 patients were reviewed. The arm was used as a don or site for harvesting full-thickness skin grafts in 52 procedures of eyeli d or facial reconstruction. Results: The size of skin grafts varied from 4.0 cm(2) to 59.5 cm(2). There were few recipient site complications: partial necrosis (n = 2), severe co ntraction (n = 2), and hair growth (n = 4). Donor site complications includ ed wound dehiscence (n = 2) and hypertrophic scarring (n = 2). Conclusions: The arm is an acceptable donor site for harvesting full-thickn ess skin grafts for use in eyelid and facial reconstruction when either tra ditional donor sites are unavailable or a large amount of skin is needed.