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Updated: Aug 18, 2025
Minced Tissue in Compressed Collagen: A Cell-containing Biotransplant for Single-staged Reconstructive Repair
Published on: February 24, 2016
A Pilot Study Using a Collagen/Oxidized Regenerative Cellulose Dressing for Split- Thickness Skin Graft Donor Sites
Emily Alberto1, Richard J Caplan2, John R Getchell1
1Department of Surgery, Christiana Care, Newark, Delaware.
Background:
Standardized treatment of split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor sites is not established. Bleeding can necessitate premature dressing changes, interrupting the healing process and increasing pain.
Purpose:
A collagen/oxidized regenerated cellulose (C/ORC) dressing was used on the donor site. The authors hypothesized that the collagen matrix could decrease bleeding-related complications, reduce pain, and foster epithelialization.
Methods:
The C/ORC matrix was applied to the donor site after hemostasis was achieved. Dressings were removed between postoperative days 4 and 7, and the patients' pain levels, bleeding complications, and percentage healed were recorded.
Results:
Thirty-nine patients were treated with the C/ORC donor site dressing. Of these, 35 patients (89.7%) were receiving at least prophylactic anticoagulation, and no bleeding complications were recorded. The average area of donor sites was 123.8 cm2 (range, 20-528 cm2). Utilizing the Numerical Rating Scale, 25 patients (64.1%) reported no pain with dressing removal while 5 (12.8%) reported a decrease in pain. The percentage of epithelialization as assessed by treating clinician was at least equivalent to other modalities.
Conclusions:
The application of a C/ORC matrix to STSG donor wound sites resulted in no bleeding complications and excellent pain control while promoting epithelialization in the patients studied. Following this study, the C/ORC dressing has been incorporated into the authors' standard protocol.
