Large defects in aplasia cutis congenita treated by large-sized thin split-thickness skin grafting: long-term follow-up of 18 patients.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term results of using surgical large-sized thin split-thickness skin grafting to treat aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) in neonates.

METHODS

This study included 18 ACC neonates with large skin defects who underwent large-sized thin split-thickness skin grafting at our hospital from March 2002 to November 2011. The size of the lesion was >10% of the total body surface area (TBSA) in 16 patients, 7% of TBSA in one patient, and 3% of TBSA in another patient. The size of the skin graft was designed to be equal to or slightly larger than the size of the lesion.

RESULTS

Skin grafts in 16 patients who were followed for periods of 6 months-7 years after surgery showed good survival; however, two patients were lost to follow-up. The wound healed completely without scarring in five patients. One of the five patients who healed without scarring had failed previous conservative treatment. Several mild hypertrophic scars occurred in one patient, and flat, thin, shiny, soft, parchment-like scars were noted in five other patients. Dark red, hard, raised hypertrophic scars occurred in five patients who had partial necrosis in the skin graft after surgery.

CONCLUSION

A large-sized thin split-thickness skin graft can be used to effectively close a wound and permit healing to occur with reduced long-term scarring. This procedure is ideal for treating skin defects in patients with ACC.