Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
Murine Full-thickness Skin Transplantation
Published on: January 2, 2017
Dressing the split-thickness skin graft donor site: a randomized clinical trial
Matilda Karlsson1, Margareta Lindgren, Ingmarie Jarnhed-Andersson
1Matilda Karlsson, RN, is a Nurse, Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery and Burn Intensive Care, University Hospital of Linköping, Sweden. Margareta Lindgren, PhD, RN, is, a Senior Lecturer, Division of Nursing Science, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Ingmarie Jarnhed-Andersson, RN, is a Nurse, Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery and Burn Intensive Care, University Hospital of Linköping, Sweden. Erkki Tarpila, MD, PhD, is a Senior Plastic Surgeon, Department of Hand and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of Linköping, Sweden.
Aquacel and Mediskin I promote faster healing of split-thickness skin graft donor sites compared to Allevyn. Aquacel offers reduced pain, better usability, and lower cost, making it a preferred choice.
Area of Science:
- Wound healing and regenerative medicine
- Dermatology and plastic surgery
- Biomaterials in healthcare
Background:
- Split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor sites are prone to complications like delayed healing and infection.
- Effective wound management of donor sites is crucial for patient recovery and minimizing morbidity.
- Various dressings are available, each with unique properties influencing healing outcomes and patient experience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy and patient-reported outcomes of three dressings: Aquacel, Allevyn, and Mediskin I.
- To evaluate healing rates, infection incidence, pain levels, and usability for split-thickness skin graft donor sites.
- To assess the cost-effectiveness of each dressing in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized, 3-arm clinical study involving 67 adult patients with 73 thigh donor sites.
- Random assignment of donor sites to treatment with Aquacel, Allevyn, or Mediskin I.
- Assessment of donor sites on postoperative days 3, 14, and 21 for healing, infection, pain, impact on daily life, ease of use, and cost.
Main Results:
- Aquacel and Mediskin I demonstrated significantly faster re-epithelialization compared to Allevyn.
- No significant differences in infection rates were observed among the three groups.
- Aquacel treatment resulted in significantly less pain during dressing changes and reduced impact on daily life compared to Allevyn.
- Aquacel was rated as significantly easier to use by caregivers than Allevyn and Mediskin I.
- Mediskin I was the most expensive dressing, with significant cost differences noted between all three.
Conclusions:
- Aquacel is a recommended dressing for split-thickness skin graft donor sites due to its favorable outcomes.
- Aquacel offers a combination of rapid healing, user-friendliness, low cost per unit, and minimized patient discomfort.
- The study supports Aquacel as an effective and patient-centered option for managing STSG donor sites.
