The use of "composite dressing" for covering split-thickness skin graft donor sites.

To evaluate the effect of a new dressing method for clean wound coverage, two kinds of dressing materials are combined together to cover nine wounds in nine patients. All the wounds are split-thickness skin graft donor sites located in the anterior thighs. The size of the wounds ranges from 6 cm x 4 cm to 10 cm x 8 cm (42 cm(2) on average). A central fenestration is created in the polyurethane film layer for draining the wound discharge, and a piece of 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm carboxymethyl cellulose dressing is fixed on top of the fenestration for protecting the underlying wound. Dry gauze is used to cover the composite dressing, which is replaced daily. The wound condition is checked and recorded everyday until the patient is discharged. Further management and follow-up for the wound is performed at the outpatient department or by telephone. All wounds healed smoothly on the postoperative 6th to 7th day. No wound infection was noted, including one patient who had diabetes mellitus. Five patients responded to follow-up for at least 5 months and no hypertrophy scar formation was noted. From clinical experiences, we know that this new method is practical and cost-effective for covering small-sized, split-thickness skin graft donor-site wounds. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.