Microbiology and healing of the occluded skin-graft donor site

Delayed healing of skin-graft donor sites may be costly and life-threatening, especially in patients with large body surface area burns. A donor site dressing should maximize the ability of the wound to heal without increasing the risk of local infection, systemic infection, or both. Specifically, t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPlastic and reconstructive surgery (1963) Vol. 91; no. 6; p. 1094
Main Authors Smith, Jr, D J, Thomson, P D, Bolton, L L, Hutchinson, J J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.05.1993
Subjects
Burns - surgery
Colloids
Humans
Occlusive Dressings
Prospective Studies
Skin Transplantation
Wound Healing
Wound Infection - microbiology
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Summary:Delayed healing of skin-graft donor sites may be costly and life-threatening, especially in patients with large body surface area burns. A donor site dressing should maximize the ability of the wound to heal without increasing the risk of local infection, systemic infection, or both. Specifically, the possibility of a secondary infection may either slow the healing process or ultimately convert the donor site into a full-thickness skin loss. A number of materials ranging from gauze to biologicals have been investigated for use as donor site dressings. The use of hydrocolloids for donor sites has been widely studied and has shown improved healing rates over the rates reported for conventional dressings. Our recent study using hydrocolloids confirmed earlier research that showed fewer infections and more rapid donor site healing.
ISSN:0032-1052
DOI:10.1097/00006534-199305000-00019