Introduction
For many years surgeons have searched for a better method of securing coverage of large, full-thickness skin defects that result most commonly from thermal injury. The coverage of these large defects is time-consuming and difficult, often requiring multiple skin autografts. At times sufficient autograft donor sites are not available, and long intervals occur between grafting procedures, until the donor areas are healed and can be used a second time.There is a real possibility that atomic weapons will be used in any future world conflict and cause large numbers of extensive third-degree burns that will require grafting.Recently Najarian, Crane, and McCorkle3 described a skin autograft technique using fine skin particles prepared in a food Blendor. These investigators reported that in using this technique they were able to cover 9 to 10 times the area that is covered by equal amounts of solid-sheet, split-thickness autografts.The studies reported