Wolfson Children's Hospital. Introduction Morbidity and mortality are highly influenced by the ability of the individual to heal complex wounds. Clearly documented especially through wartime experience, we find that survival often depends on the delicate balance between the environment and the host's ability to maintain homeostasis during the healing phase.
Reconstructive surgery serves at least two purposes.
The return to an acceptable form and function of an injured portion of the body is the goal, but also the added advantage of early and effective wound healing following skin grafting or surgical flaps. Reconstructive procedures are continually evolving to meet the specific requirements necessary to achieve satisfactory wound closure and restore functional integrity in the least time and with the least resultant morbidity. This schema is referred to as a reconstructive ladder as each procedure is generally more complex and requires more expertise. Each technique provides advantages and disadvantages which must be weighed in the decision making process. Skin Grafts Skin grafts may be classified as either full thickness or split thickness depending on the amount of dermis contained within the graft.