Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Medical grafting
Introduction
Overview
Overview
In medicine, grafting is a surgical procedure to transplant tissue without a blood supply. The implanted tissue must obtain a blood supply from the new vascular bed or otherwise die.
Types of grafting
Types of grafting
The term is most commonly applied to skin grafting, however many tissues can be grafted: skin, bone, nerves, tendons, and cornea are the tissue commonly grafted today.
Skin grafting
Skin grafting is often used to treat skin loss due to a wound, burn, infection, or surgery. In the case of damaged skin, it is removed, and new skin is grafted in its place. Skin grafting can reduce the course of treatment and hospitalization needed, and can also improve function and appearance.
Bone grafting
Bone grafting is used in dental implants, as well as other instances. The bone may be autologous, typically harvested from the iliac crest of the pelvis, or banked bone.