Handle Skin Grafting Small

Quick Answer: The small skin grafting handle is the holder of a hand skin-graft knife, which cuts thin split-thickness skin grafts. In teaching it is used for instrument identification and for graft-harvesting practice in surgical wet labs.

What a Skin Grafting Handle Does

Split-thickness skin grafts are thin sheets of skin shaved from a donor site to cover a wound. Before powered dermatomes became common, and still for small grafts, they were cut with a hand knife: a handle carrying a long, very sharp blade, drawn back and forth across the skin. Patterns such as the Humby and Watson knives carry a roller that can be adjusted to set graft thickness, while smaller patterns such as the Silver knife are used for small grafts.

This listing is for the small handle. The listing image file name refers to a Silver-type handle, and whether blades or a thickness guard are included is not stated, so confirm the blade type with the order.

In teaching, the handle appears in instrument identification for surgery and OT courses, and in wet labs, where trainees practise graft harvesting on pig skin to learn blade angle, lubrication of the donor skin and even strokes.

Specifications

Applications

• Instrument identification in general surgery, plastic surgery and OT technician teaching
• Wet-lab graft-harvesting practice on pig skin
• Explaining split-thickness grafts in lessons on the structure of skin

Care & Handling

• Remove the blade before cleaning the skin grafting handle, and dispose of used blades in a sharps container.
• Clean all clamping surfaces and any adjusting screw, then sterilise and dry.
• Store the handle in a tray where the blade seat cannot be knocked out of alignment.

Why Choose LabEquip

Skin grafting handles are usually ordered by surgical departments and skills centres that teach graft harvesting, and by colleges completing instrument sets for OT technician courses. Related instruments such as the needle holder and Kocher forceps are in the same Biology Lab Products range; write through the contact page with your blade requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a split-thickness skin graft?

A graft that includes the epidermis and part of the dermis, shaved thinly from a donor site. The donor area heals from the remaining dermis, while the graft covers the wound.

How is graft thickness controlled with a hand knife?

On roller-type knives such as the Humby, an adjustable roller sets the gap between roller and blade. With smaller knives, thickness depends on the guard and on the angle and pressure the operator uses.

How does a small grafting handle differ from a Humby knife?

A small handle, such as the Silver type, takes a shorter blade for small grafts. The Humby knife is larger, with an adjustable roller, for wider grafts.

Can trainees practise with this handle?

Yes. Surgical wet labs use pig skin to practise holding the knife at a shallow angle, keeping the skin taut and lubricated, and using even sawing strokes.

How are blades fitted?

The blade is clamped into the handle’s blade seat according to the pattern. Handle blades with forceps and follow the fitting instructions supplied, since designs differ.

Is the handle reusable?

The metal handle is reusable after cleaning and sterilisation; the blades are replaced after each use.

Last Updated: September 2026