Wound-healing improvement by resurfacing split-thickness skin donor sites with thin split-thickness grafting

Introduction: Split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor site dressing has been controversial until now. Our study aimed to assess the patient comfort and wound-healing efficacy with the application of thin split-thickness skin grafts regrafting on STSG donor sites. Methods: One hundred ninety-two consecutive patients undergoing split-thickness skin grafting were included in the study, and the participants were randomly divided into the following three groups: group A was regrafted with thin STSGs and groups B and C were covered with occlusive hydrocellular dressing and paraffin gauze, respectively. The participants were compared according to the epithelialization time, pain and scar formation. Results: The average time of epithelialization was 6.2 +/- 1.1 days in group A, 11.1 +/- 2.1 days in group B and 13.5 +/- 2.5 days in group C. The pain scores on days 2 and 5 after operation were 2.3 +/- 0.8 and 1.9 +/- 0.8 in group A, 2.5 +/- 1.1 and 3.9 +/- 1.3 in group B, and 3.8 +/- 1.4 and 5.9 +/- 2.1 in group C. The scar scores at half a year and one year after operation were 4.3 +/- 0.6 and 2.50 +/- 0.6 in group A, 7.4 +/- 0.6 and 6.2 +/- 0.6 in group B, and 11.8 +/- 0.4 and 10.9 +/- 1.0 in group C, separately. The difference in the three groups was significant. Conclusion: Utilizing thin STSGs regrafting on donor sites could significantly shorten the epithelialization time, reduce pain and prevent hyperplastic scar formulation. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd and ISBI.