Purpose

Split-thickness skin grafts are frequently performed surgical procedures but consensus does not exist regarding optimal donor site care. The overall efficacy of various dressings is usually determined based on healing, associated pain, and expense. The current protocol at this institution was to use an alginate dressing covered by a transparent film requiring frequent dressing changes which were expensive and often painful for the patient. This is a clinical evaluation of a nonadhesive absorbent foam dressing on the donor sites of 10 patients undergoing split-thickness skin grafting.

Methodology

The placement of the nonadhesive absorbent foam dressing on the donor site was done in the operating room at the time of the surgery.  The foam was then covered with a transparent film dressing to secure it. Patients were seen in the clinic one week later for their first postoperative check-up at which time the dressing was removed and the donor site was assessed. Patients were asked about pain associated with the donor site. If needed, the nonadhesive absorbent foam dressing was reapplied and patients were followed until complete healing of the donor site occurred. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.

Results

Ten patients undergoing split-thickness skin graft participated in the study.  A total of 16 foam dressings were used for a range of 3 to 1 dressings being used per patient with a mean of 1.6. The mode was 1 which means that 6 patients only needed one dressing change before the donor site was healed.   Patients did not report any pain or problems with the donor site.

Conclusion

There are a multitude of products used to cover donor sites with very little research to substantiate their use.  This clinical trial of 10 patients indicated that a nonadhesive absorbent foam dressing is a good option for covering donor sites.

*Product used was Restore Foam Dressing by Hollister Wound Care