The arm as a skin graft donor site in eyelid reconstruction

Purpose: To report the technique, success, and complications of using the arm 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 donor site for harvesting full-thickness skin grafts in 52 procedures of eyelid or facial reconstruction. Results: The size of skin grafts varied from 4.0 cm² to 59.5 cm². There were few recipient site complications: Partial necrosis (n=2), severe contraction (n=2), and hair growth (n=4). Donor site complications included wound dehiscence (n=2) and hypertrophic scarring (n=2). Conclusions: The arm is an acceptable donor site for harvesting full-thickness skin grafts for use in eyelid and facial reconstruction when either traditional donor sites are unavailable or a large amount of skin is needed.