Skin grafts 2: management of donor site wounds in the community

Skin grafting is a surgical procedure used to quickly restore skin integrity in large wounds or those wounds which cannot be directly closed by suturing. The procedure of skin grafting necessitates the creation of a second wound; the donor site. Although often viewed as secondary importance by surgeons once skin has been harvested from the area, it is the donor site which frequently causes complications such as pain/discomfort and slow healing (Wilkinson, 1997). Because skin graft sites and donor sites are viewed as part of a specialist practice, their wound management is regarded as being 'something different'. However, the donor site is a partial-dermal thickness wound and should be seen as such, rather than a 'special' wound. This may help to lessen the anxiety felt by both patient and nurse in dealing with donor site wounds.