Skin Graft: Risks, Malpractice and Lawsuits

Skin grafts are commonly used to permanently replace skin that was damaged as a result from burns or other trauma.  Grafts can also replace missing skin or they can operate as a temporary wound covering for ulcers resulting from pressure sores or diabetic ulcers.

How the Procedure is Done

There are two common major types of skin graft procedures- allografts or autografts. An allograft uses skin taken from another area of the patients’ body.  Autografts use skin from another human being, usually a cadaver that has been stored and frozen for this purpose. 
The procedure takes special cement and applies it to the donor skin area, the area where the skin will be applied is thoroughly cleaned and blood vessels to the area are tied off.  The new skin is then applied and stitched to the area, covered with non-stick gauze and then fluffy surgical gauze for three to five days to prevent infection. 

Recovery from skin graft surgery depends on the amount of area that was covered by the graft and of course the underlying reason for application of the graft in the first place.  Dressings are usually required for 1-3 weeks and ace bandages or skin stockings are utilized for several months. With extensive grafting procedures the hospital stay is usually one to two weeks.

Risks

Common risks associated with skin grafts can include:

• Anesthesia based reactions and complications
• Reactions to medications
• Respiratory issues
• Scarring
• Uneven skin surface
• Bleeding and
• Infection. 
• Contracting an infectious disease from the skin donor (only in allograft procedures)

Opportunity for Negligence and Injury

Negligence requiring filing suit most often arises where there is improper treatment and cleaning of the surgical area before the graft is applied. Also careless handling of the tissue that is grafted in can result in the spread of infection.

Medical Negligence and Malpractice Suits

The major areas of liability will most commonly be failure to properly prepaire the patient for surgery, failure to diagnose and treat infection after the surgery, and the ever-present negligence in performance of the procedure.

Damages must always be proven to be a reasonable result of the injury that the patient suffers.  Those available in the case of successful suit include:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental suffering and emotional distress
• Loss of time/earnings and impairment of earning capacity
• Medical expenses
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Injury related expenses, and
• Loss of consortium.

Get Legal Help

Discovering that your doctor was negligent in performing a procedure can be a frustrating experience.  Make sure that you seek the advice of a licensed attorney in your area to assist you in working thru the facts of your situation.  Since medical malpractice is a highly specialized area of law, seek the advice of an attorney that has an established practice in this area.