In split-thickness skin grafting, which graft characteristic primarily determines the probability of primary graft take at a recipient wound bed?

• A Thickness of the graft (thin < 0.25 mm vs thick > 0.45 mm)
• B Use of meshed vs unmeshed graft
• C Donor site anatomical location
• D Adequacy of plasmatic imbibition, inosculation, and revascularization in the recipient bed ✓

Explanation

Graft take depends on the recipient wound bed quality—specifically the three phases: plasmatic imbibition (passive nutrient absorption from wound fluid for 24-48 hours), inosculation (capillary budding alignment between graft and bed vessels at 24-72 hours), and revascularization/neovascularization (new blood vessel ingrowth from day 3-5). A poorly vascularized bed (avascular bone, tendon without paratenon, irradiated tissue) will fail to support these phases regardless of graft thickness or meshing. Graft thickness affects durability and donor site morbidity but not primarily graft take probability.

Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.