Wound Healing--Skin Suspension and Donor Site Healing

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to apply a skin suspension to accelerate wound healing at the skin donor site.
Methods. A small fragment of skin was collected after skin transplantation had been performed. The skin suspension was prepared by mixing the small fragments of skin tissue with the same volume of normal saline. The suspension was then applied to the donor site. Donor sites without skin suspension were employed as controls.
Results. Faster healing was found at the donor sites that had been covered with skin suspension and with less scar formation compared to controls.
Conclusion. Skin suspension prepared from residual graft skin can ameliorate donor site wound healing.

Introduction

The management of the donor site after harvesting a skin graft widely applied in plastic surgery as a reconstructive technique is a subject of utmost interest in clinical practice. However, current numerous donor site dressings can cause many problems, such as pain, pruritus, scars, and even functional disturbance. Incomplete healing can be found as a result of less residual appendants or infection, which could increase discomfort and treatment costs for patients.

The debate continues about what skin graft donor-site dressing can provide the best outcomes for patients at the lowest cost. In the authors' clinical practice, small fragments of skin graft cut to the size of the wound were collected and prepared into a skin suspension. The skin suspension was applied to the donor sites, which could significantly accelerate donor site wound healing.