A controlled subatmospheric pressure dressing increases the rate of skin graft donor site reepithelialization

The ability to increase the rate of skin graft donor site reepithelialization significantly in a cost-effective manner has important implications for the patient undergoing major reconstructive procedures. In this study the effect of externally applied reduced pressure (the V.A.C.) on the rate of healing of donor site wounds was initially investigated using a porcine model (N = 4), then repeated on humans (N = 10). Split-thickness skin grafts were harvested from the backs of pigs using standard technique. Half of the donor sites were treated with subatmospheric pressure (125 mmHg) and half were treated with an OpSite dressing. Biopsies taken every 48 hours demonstrated that sites exposed to reduced pressure healed at a much faster rate than sites treated with a standard occlusive dressing. Similarly, donor sites in humans reepithelialized faster in 7 of 10 patients, the rate was the same in 2 of 10 patients, and OpSite was faster in 1 of 10 patients. We believe this technology has the potential to be a relatively simple and cost-efficient method for increasing the rate of donor site healing.