Sterile cast padding as an alternative to commercially available cotton balls for split-thickness skin graft bolster dressing.

The use of a bolster dressing to secure a split-thickness skin graft to the underlying wound bed is essential for successful healing. Sterile medical grade commercially available cotton balls are commonly used; however, they are relatively expensive and frequently not readily available in sufficient quantities. In this techniques report, the authors describe the use of handmade cotton balls from sterile cotton cast padding, which are inexpensive and simple to fabricate from a readily available source. Copyright 2010 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.