Abstract
Split-thickness skin grafts are widely used to treat chronic wounds. Procedure design requires surgeons to predict how much a patch of the patient's own skin expands when it is meshed with rows of slits and stretched over a larger wound area. Accurate prediction of graft expansion remains a challenge, with current models overestimating the actual expansion, leading to suboptimal outcomes. Inspired by the principles of mechanical metamaterials, we developed a model that distinguishes between the kinematic rearrangement of structural elements and their stretching, providing a more accurate prediction of skin graft expansion. Our model was validated against extensive data from skin graft surgeries, demonstrating vastly superior predictive capability compared to existing methods. This metamaterial-inspired approach enables informed decision-making for potentially improving healing outcomes.
Committee Chair
Guy M. Genin
Committee Members
Matthew R. Bersi Michael Greenberg
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Author's Department
Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
Fall 12-17-2025
Language
English (en)
Recommended Citation
Yu, Haomin, "Expansion Limits of Meshed Split-Thickness Skin Grafts" (2025). McKelvey School of Engineering Theses & Dissertations. 1305.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/eng_etds/1305