The Australian Mohs Database: Short-Term Recipient-Site Complications in Full-Thickness Skin Grafts

BACKGROUND: There are only a few reports on the outcome with full-thickness skin grafts (FTSG) in defect reconstruction after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS). OBJECTIVES: The objective was to evaluate the complications with FTSG in patients treated with MMS for cutaneous tumors. METHODS: This study is based on a prospective data collection of all patients in Australia treated with MMS and monitored by the Skin and Cancer Foundation, between 1993 and 2002. Primary outcome measures were FTSG recipient-site complications (partial/complete graft failure, graft infection, acute bleeding/hematoma, graft hypertrophy, and graft contracture). RESULTS: The study group included 2,673 patients (50.2% men) with a mean age of 64+/-14 years. Most tumors were basal call carcinoma (90.9%) and were located on the nose (63.8%), periocular area (14.8%), or auricular area (8.1%). A total of 11.7% of cases had recipient-site complications (graft hypertrophy, 42.3%; partial graft failure, 27.2%; graft contraction, 15.3%). Only 45.2% of complicated cases required treatment. CONCLUSION: Short-term recipient-site complications occurred in less than 12% of reconstructions with FTSG. Graft hypertrophy and partial graft failure accounted for most cases of complications. The authors have indicated no significant interest with commercial supporters.