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The publications on the physiology of the free full thickness skin autograft are reported with special reference to the newer ones as a synopsis of literature. Emphasis is placed upon the interesting findings on plastic surgery and especially upon the operative treatment of alopecia.

In animal experiments with 12 male guinea pigs skin defects have been covered with one-sided bridge flaps. As opposed to corresponding earlier investigations on free full thickness skin autografts no irreversible and much less reversible damage to the hair follicles could be demonstrated in these skin flaps in the primary postoperative phase. In the later postoperative phase, there was--similar to the free full thickness skin autografts--a synchronization of hair change over several cycles, but on the other hand there was no precipitation of hair change. As a result of these findings it may be assumed that the secondary damage to the hair follicles in the later postoperative phase is not as pronounced in these flaps as in free full thickness skin autografts.