A comparative study of three new occlusive dressings for healing of graft donor sites versus conventional therapy

Abstract

A comparative study of four skin graft donor site dressings was undertaken. This was a prospective and cross-over study of 25 consecutive patients with burns up to 40% TBSA treated with split skin grafts. Each donor site was divided into four sections and covered with different dressings in order to evaluate their effectiveness in healing, the time required for complete epithelialization, patient acceptance and any intolerance or local infection. The results showed that the occlusive hydrocolloid dressing significantly decreases (p < 0.01) the mean time required for complete healing (7.45 days) compared with a semiocclusive hydrocolloid (10.29 days), a polyurethane sheet (9.4 days) and the conventional dressing (10.04 days).

The use of moist wound‐healing dressings in the management of split‐thickness skin graft donor sites: a systematic review

“…The other study did show a statistically significant difference although the comparison was made between a standard thickness product and a thin style, which would not be expected to perform to the same level 14 . The one study comparing different hydrocolloids with regard to infection showed no significant difference 15 …”

“…There were a very limited number of studies of sufficient quality that made comparisons between different hydrocolloid dressings. In relation to the outcome of days to complete healing one study showed no significant difference between different hydrocolloids 15 . The other study did show a statistically significant difference although the comparison was made between a standard thickness product and a thin style, which would not be expected to perform to the same level 14 .…”

“…In relation to infection the meta‐analysis significantly favoured hydrocolloids over non‐moist dressings 15,16 , 27,28 . Although three of the four studies included did not achieve a significant result, the combined result favoured the hydrocolloids significantly ( N = 209, Peto OR 0.21; 95% CI 0.07, 0.65) with a considerable degree of homogeneity (Fig.…”

“…In comparison with other moist products, in relation to the outcome days to healing , meta‐analysis of two studies significantly favoured the hydrocolloids ( N = 88, WMD −1.45; 95% CI −2.17, −0.74) although it should be noted the two studies lacked homogeneity 15,33 . An additional study favoured the polyurethane product but no indication of significance was given 34…”

“…The results for the outcomes of pain 34,35 and rates of infection 15,33–35 suggest that hydrocolloids are not particularly superior to other moist products.…”