UCSF

Skin grafting is a closure technique widely used in plastic surgery. Urologists may encounter patients with diseases that lead to severe tissue loss due to infection, trauma, burns, malignancy, skin maladies, or primary lymphedema. The development and study of skin harvesting techniques to manage tissue coverage of burns has allowed for great advances and the widening application of skin grafting. As such, there is a growing recognition and application of skin grafts within urology. The aim of surgical treatment and skin grafting within urology is to preserve genital function, improve quality of life, and restore cosmetic damage. In addition to basic technique, this article reviews specific surgical methods employed in reconstruction for patients with Fournier gangrene, buried penis, and hidradenitis suppurativa. Urologists must be aware of these techniques in order to provide adequate counseling for patients considering these operations and when encountering complications.