Tam, JoshuaWang, YingFarinelli, William A.Jiménez-Lozano, JoelFranco, WalfreSakamoto, FernandaCheung, Evelyn J.Purschke, MartinDoukas, Apostolos G.Anderson, R. Rox2014-11-032013Tam, Joshua, Ying Wang, William A. Farinelli, Joel Jiménez-Lozano, Walfre Franco, Fernanda H. Sakamoto, Evelyn J. Cheung, Martin Purschke, Apostolos G. Doukas, and R. Rox Anderson. 2013. “Fractional Skin Harvesting: Autologous Skin Grafting without Donor-site Morbidity.” Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open 1 (6): e47. doi:10.1097/GOX.0b013e3182a85a36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0b013e3182a85a36.2169-7574http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:13347637Background: Conventional autologous skin grafts are associated with significant donor-site morbidity. This study was conducted to determine feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a new strategy for skin grafting based on harvesting small columns of full-thickness skin with minimal donor-site morbidity. Methods: The swine model was used for this study. Hundreds of full-thickness columns of skin tissue (~700 µm diameter) were harvested using a custom-made harvesting device, and then applied directly to excisional skin wounds. Healing in donor and graft sites was evaluated over 3 months by digital photographic measurement of wound size and blinded, computer-aided evaluation of histological features and compared with control wounds that healed by secondary intention or with conventional split-thickness skin grafts (STSG). Results: After harvesting hundreds of skin columns, the donor sites healed rapidly without scarring. These sites reepithelialized within days and were grossly and histologically indistinguishable from normal skin within 7 weeks. By contrast, STSG donor sites required 2 weeks for reepithelialization and retained scar-like characteristics in epidermal and dermal architecture throughout the experiment. Wounds grafted with skin columns resulted in accelerated reepithelialization compared with ungrafted wounds while avoiding the “fish-net” patterning caused by STSG. Conclusion: Full-thickness columns of skin can be harvested in large quantities with negligible long-term donor-site morbidity, and these columns can be applied directly to skin wounds to enhance wound healing.en-USJournal Article2014-11-0310.1097/GOX.0b013e3182a85a36