A hidden donor site for resurfacing finger tip defects: the ‘ring graft’

Skin defects on the finger tip, are commonly treated with skin grafts or flaps. Hidden areas are usually preferred as donor sites. In this study, skin over the dorsal aspect of the base of the injured finger or another finger in the same area is used as a donor site. Since the donor area can be hidden beneath a ring, it was named as the ‘ring graft’. The skin elasticity over this area, allows a fairly large graft. This method was performed in defects of 27 patients involving 32 fingers. Donor sites were closed primarily without any tension. Results on follow-ups of the patients were satisfactory concerning colour and texture match of the graft. We recommend the ‘ring graft’ as a hidden alternative donor site for resurfacing of a finger in selected cases.