Introduction: Techniques for skin grafting in horses vary widely from the most basic (pinch grafts) to the most sophisticated (split thickness mesh or micro-island (Meek) grafting). The practicality of these varies markedly. Skin grafting is an underused technique in equine wound management as well as in surgical practice. Significant benefits can be gained from early use of grafting techniques so that the horse returns to a healthy and usable state much earlier. It is also an important resource in the management of non-healing wounds and in some specific surgical circumstances. This guide provides information and instruction on the technique of pinch grafting. This is an easy and practical method of supporting wound healing in particular. There are also comments on the related techniques of punch grafting and tunnel grafting. n Pinch grafting requires the minimum of equipment but the correct equipment helps significantly. KRUUSE has developed the EQUIVET Skin Grafting Set that contains the correct instruments for grafting techniques. n Pinch grafting can be performed in many cases with a standing sedated horse because collection of the grafts can easily be undertaken using local anaesthesia and placement of the grafts is usually pain-free and requires no significant local anaesthesia in the vast majority of cases. n Pinch grafting is tolerant of low quality granulation tissue and superficial and minor infection as well as some local and general movement. It is however improved dramatically by ensuring good quality even and healthy granulation tissue and by careful attention to detail including the restriction of movement in the immediate post grafting period. Other forms of grafting are much less tolerant of infection, movement and poor quality granulation tissue. n Pinch grafting is a fast and easily repeatable technique that demands very little technical skill – however there are important ways in which the benefit can be enhanced and the results improved. www.kruuse.com
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