What is "skin grafting"

Grafting \Graft"ing\ n.

1. (Hort.) The act, art, or process of inserting grafts.

2. (Naut.) The act or method of weaving a cover for a ring, rope end, etc.

3. (Surg.) The transplanting of a portion of flesh or skin to a denuded surface; autoplasty.

4. (Carp.) A scarfing or endwise attachment of one timber to another. Cleft grafting (Hort.) a method of grafting in which the scion is placed in a cleft or slit in the stock or stump made by sawing off a branch, usually in such a manaer that its bark evenly joins that of the stock. Crown grafting or Rind grafting, (Hort.) a method of grafting which the alburnum and inner bark are separated, and between them is inserted the lower end of the scion cut slantwise. Saddle grafting, a mode of grafting in which a deep cleft is made in the end of the scion by two sloping cuts, and the end of the stock is made wedge-shaped to fit the cleft in the scion, which is placed upon it saddlewise. Side grafting, a mode of grafting in which the scion, cut quite across very obliquely, so as to give it the form of a slender wedge, is thrust down inside of the bark of the stock or stem into which it is inserted, the cut side of the scion being next the wood of the stock. Skin grafting. (Surg.) See Autoplasty. Splice grafting (Hort.), a method of grafting by cutting the ends of the scion and stock completely across and obliquely, in such a manner that the sections are of the same shape, then lapping the ends so that the one cut surface exactly fits the other, and securing them by tying or otherwise. Whip grafting, tongue grafting, the same as splice grafting, except that a cleft or slit is made in the end of both scion and stock, in the direction of the grain and in the middle of the sloping surface, forming a kind of tongue, so that when put together, the tongue of each is inserted in the slit of the other. Grafting scissors, a surgeon's scissors, used in rhinoplastic operations, etc. Grafting tool.

   1. Any tool used in grafting.

   2. A very strong curved spade used in digging canals.

      Grafting wax, a composition of rosin, beeswax tallow, etc., used in binding up the wounds of newly grafted trees.

Skin grafting is a type of graft surgery involving the transplantation of skin. The transplanted tissue is called a skin graft.

Skin grafting is often used to treat:

• Extensive wounding or trauma
• Burns
• Areas of extensive skin loss due to infection such as necrotizing fasciitis or purpura fulminans
• Specific surgeries that may require skin grafts for healing to occur - most commonly removal of skin cancers

Skin grafts are often employed after serious injuries when some of the body's skin is damaged. Surgical removal (excision or debridement) of the damaged skin is followed by skin grafting. The grafting serves two purposes: reduce the course of treatment needed (and time in the hospital), and improve the function and appearance of the area of the body which receives the skin graft.

There are two types of skin grafts, the more common type is where a thin layer is removed from a healthy part of the body (the donor section) like peeling a potato, or a full thickness skin graft, which involves pitching and cutting skin away from the donor section. A full thickness skin graft is more risky, in terms of the body accepting the skin, yet it leaves only a scar line on the donor section, similar to a Cesarean section scar. For full thickness skin grafts, the donor section will often heal much more quickly than the injury and is less painful than a partial thickness skin graft.