132 cases of various skin defects which were occurred during the Korea War were treated with skin grafts or flaps. These cases were difficult to restore with ordinary conservative managements. Through the clinical experience on these cases the result obtained as follows;
1) Among total 132 cases, pathologic lesions of skin defects were chronic ulcers (24 cases), cicatrical skin contractures(24 cases), amputated stumps(25 cases), facial deformity(16 cases) and skin defects for preliminary operations of other surgery(33 cases).
2) The methods of skin coverage were skin grafts(84 split-thickness skin graft and 4 stamp skin graft) and skin flaps (24 cross leg flap, 5 abdominal tube pedicle flap and 12 abdominal pedicle flap to arm).
3) 7 cases(5. 3%) of failure of the skin coverage were derived from split-thickness skin graft and major cause of failure was observed to be poor circulation of amputated stumps.
4) The lesions of poor circulation such as amputated stumps and ulcer cruris were con-trolled with delayed pedicle flap only and good weight bearing was obtained by this method.
5) Functional restorations of joint surfaces, especially anterior neck contracture, were obtained by pedicle flap or it was substituted for 35/1000 inches split thickness skin graft.
6) Grafted skin on the face darkened postoperatively, but it´s color progressively imp roved and recurrance of keloid was- hardly noticiblee
7) Split-thickness skin graft by use of Padget´s- dermatome was indicated to primary healing of chronic ulcer and to life-saving porcedure of severe ´ burn cases which shortened the period of hospitalization.
8) Skin grafts and flaps were cooperated with other surgical service such as orthopedic and neurosurgery for the chronic osteomyelitis.
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