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BACKGROUND: Local management of the skin graft donor site is still controversial. Reviewing recent literature, we have found that the main studied issues were related to the capacity of an specific dressing of improving the time of cure of the wound and reducing both discomfort and pain of patients.
METHODS: We have randomly selected 34 patients burn, who were divided into three groups: study group A (GE-A), the donor area located on the anterolateral site of the thigh was covered with bovine collagen dressing associated with the alginate calcium and covered with transparent polyurethane film, study group B (GE-B), only transparent polyurethane film, study group (GE-C) rayon soaked in 0.9% saline. Two independent observers assessed the results on the three groups regarding the performance of each dressing to promote epithelialization, presence of scabbing, quantity and characteristics of the exudate and the occurrence of complication. The pain related by the patients was quantified by visual analog scale (VAS), the brief pain inventory (BPI) and index of pain management (IPM).
RESULTS: Comparing the GEA with respect to time of epithelialization with other groups we observed, GE-A: 6.3 days / GE-B: 8.2 days p <0.02; GE-A: 6.3 days / GE-C: 11.7 days with p <0.01. In 90% of patients in the GEA recorded mild pain (VAS), 85% of the GEA did not mention pain localized in the donor graft (BPI) and the IPM was between the interval [-3, +1].
DISCUSSION: The use of the dressing of collagen associated with calcium alginate in areas of donor area grafts had a reduced time of epithelization compared to controls as well as the degree of pain was also reduced with the coverage compared to the other groups.
METHODS: We have randomly selected 34 patients burn, who were divided into three groups: study group A (GE-A), the donor area located on the anterolateral site of the thigh was covered with bovine collagen dressing associated with the alginate calcium and covered with transparent polyurethane film, study group B (GE-B), only transparent polyurethane film, study group (GE-C) rayon soaked in 0.9% saline. Two independent observers assessed the results on the three groups regarding the performance of each dressing to promote epithelialization, presence of scabbing, quantity and characteristics of the exudate and the occurrence of complication. The pain related by the patients was quantified by visual analog scale (VAS), the brief pain inventory (BPI) and index of pain management (IPM).
RESULTS: Comparing the GEA with respect to time of epithelialization with other groups we observed, GE-A: 6.3 days / GE-B: 8.2 days p <0.02; GE-A: 6.3 days / GE-C: 11.7 days with p <0.01. In 90% of patients in the GEA recorded mild pain (VAS), 85% of the GEA did not mention pain localized in the donor graft (BPI) and the IPM was between the interval [-3, +1].
DISCUSSION: The use of the dressing of collagen associated with calcium alginate in areas of donor area grafts had a reduced time of epithelization compared to controls as well as the degree of pain was also reduced with the coverage compared to the other groups.