Immediate Regrafting of the Split Thickness Skin Graft Donor Site Assists Healing

Abstract

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Clinical Study of Nanofibrillar Cellulose Hydrogel Dressing for Skin Graft Donor Site Treatment

“…The management of the donor site after splitthickness harvesting may be problematic due to delayed healing, especially in elderly patients, due to pain and discomfort at the donor site, or in patients with systemic comorbidities. 1,2 A wide variety of dressings are available but no widely approved material exists for these wounds. Various dressings raise issues regarding low absorption to exudate, desiccation, frequent dressing changes, developing resistance to microbes, or price.…”

Regrafting of the Split-Thickness Skin Graft Donor-Site: Is It Beneficial?

“…4 Bradow et al stated that it would be difficult to argue against the value of routinely regrafting in the patients expected to have poor reepithelialization potential but that not all patients may benefit of regrafting because of the aesthetically displeasing result that is typical for a meshed skin graft. 1 Our case shows that in healthy, young individuals the additional value of regrafting is indeed not so clear, since the appearance and patients' opinion of the regrafted site changed over time. Our case is a clear example of how the regrafted part can eventually develop into an aesthetically worse result with the displeasing aspects of a meshed skin graft (e.g., mixed pigmentation, irregular surface) after initial encouraging results, even though the non-grafted part took longer to heal.…”

“…After Thompson et al described better scar quality of donor sites after regrafting, several other studies reported quicker reepithelialization, reduced pain scores, and a good cosmetic appearance without an increase in complications. [1][2][3][4][5] However, studies with long-term results on donor site outcome are lacking. Bian et al were the only investigators who used a validated scale (the Vancouver Scar Scale) and a control group to assess scar quality and reported a beneficial outcome of regrafting compared with occlusive hydrocellular dressings and paraffin gauze at 1 year follow-up.…”

“…Regrafting of the donor site is one of the methods described to improve donor site healing and their cosmetic outcome. [1][2][3][4] Thompson was the first to describe the value of placing thin skin grafts on donor sites to improve healing. 5 He noted that donor sites without any grafts had a propensity for hypertrophic scars that were cosmetically unfavorable and that donor sites with thin grafts healed much more quickly with better quality healing.…”

“…2,3 Others harvested a separate thin SSGs to cover the donor site wound or used SSG remnants to assist donor site healing. 1,4 However, only one study concerning scar quality used a control group and measured scar quality after 1 year. 4 The other studies are limited by the lack of an equivalent control group and adequate follow-up period.…”