Effectiveness of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Dressing on Split-Thickness Skin Graft Donor Site Wound Healing

Effectiveness of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Dressing on Split-Thickness Skin Graft Donor Site Wound Healing

Split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) is a cornerstone of reconstructive surgery, but donor sites often experience significant morbidity due to partial-thickness wounds created. Accelerating the re-epithelialization of these donor sites is crucial for minimizing complications. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has shown potential in enhancing the re-epithelialization of donor site wounds. However, further research is needed to compare NPWT's efficacy against conventional normal pressure dressings comprehensively. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of NPWT with conventional dressings in promoting skin graft donor sites healing.

Split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) is a cornerstone of reconstructive surgery, but donor sites often experience significant morbidity due to partial-thickness wounds created. Accelerating the re-epithelialization of these donor sites is crucial for minimizing complications. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has shown potential in enhancing the re-epithelialization of donor site wounds. However, further research is needed to compare NPWT's efficacy against conventional normal pressure dressings comprehensively. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of NPWT with conventional dressings in promoting skin graft donor sites healing.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The inclusion criteria were patients who required a split-thickness skin graft procedure due to any etiology, had donor site wounds not exceeding 5% of the total body surface area, and complied with the necessary wound care and follow-up protocols.

Exclusion Criteria:

• The exclusion criteria included patients who had physical or cognitive impairment and were unable to provide informed consent or comply with necessary wound protocol, as well as patients on anticoagulant, corticosteroid, or chemotherapy treatment. Additionally, patients with donor site wounds exceeding 5% of their total body surface area were excluded.