Grafts

This course is divided into two detailed units, providing a thorough exploration of grafting techniques.

Unit 1: Principles and Applications of Grafting
This unit introduces the fundamentals of grafting and their applications in clinical practice:
- Graft Types: Understand the differences between full-thickness and split-thickness grafts, their indications, and their limitations.
- Donor Site Selection: Learn to select appropriate donor sites based on proximity, skin type, and defect requirements, avoiding hair-bearing or sun-damaged skin.
- Graft Preparation and Application: Explore step-by-step techniques for harvesting, defatting, fenestrating, and suturing grafts to recipient sites.
- Wound Healing and Dressing Protocols: Understand the stages of graft integration, optimal dressing techniques, and postoperative care to ensure successful outcomes.

Unit 2: Specialised Techniques and Demonstrations
This unit focuses on advanced techniques and practical applications:
- Halo Grafting: Learn the unique advantages of halo grafts for non-melanoma skin cancers, including faster healing, reduced pain, and simplified dressing protocols.
- Video Demonstrations: Watch detailed procedures, including split-thickness and halo grafts, from planning and excision to graft placement and dressing.
- Problem-Solving in Grafting: Address challenges such as graft failure, infection, and managing defects over high-tension or avascular areas like cartilage or bone.
- Clinical Cases and Results: Review case studies demonstrating graft applications for complex defects on the scalp, face, and lower limbs, highlighting long-term outcomes.

This course empowers participants to confidently integrate grafting into their surgical repertoire, achieving both functional and cosmetic success in managing skin cancer and other reconstructive challenges.

1. Evaluate the need for careful surgery techniques using direct closure, flaps, wedges and graft repair.
2. Distinguish split thickness and full thickness grafts and evaluate different harvest techniques.
3. Determine applications of grafts for the scalp, face and lower limb.

All degree qualified medical practitioners.