Purpose: Resurfacing glabrous skin of the pediatric patient presents a challenge due to its unique properties. An ideal donor site for palmar or plantar defects is the skin of the plantar arch.

Methods and Materials: Seven pediatric patients with palmar or plantar burn contracture or congenital syndactyly defects at Shriners Hospital for Children in Los Angeles were resurfaced with split thickness skin grafts harvested from the plantar arch.

Summary of Results: Graft take was successful with acceptable donor site healing in all patients. Because both palmar and plantar skin are glabrous the aesthetic result was a better match in color and texture than nonglabrous donor skin. Plantar wounds healed well and patients were immediately ambulatory. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 22 months.

Conclusions: Plantar arch skin grafts are ideal for resurfacing palmar and plantar defects because glabrous skin qualities are maintained and the donor site morbidity is minimal.