title: Donor site repair.
abstract: Delayed healing of skin donor sites may be costly and life threatening, especially in patients with large body-surface area burns. A donor site dressing should maximize the ability of the wound to heal without increasing the risk of local infection, systemic infection, or both. Specifically, the possibility of a secondary infection may either slow the healing process or ultimately convert the donor site to a full-thickness wound. A number of materials, ranging from gauze to biological agents, have been investigated for use as donor site dressings. The use of hydrocolloids for donor sites has been studied extensively, and, compared with conventional dressings, improved healing rates are reported. Our recent study using a hydrocolloid dressing confirmed earlier research showing fewer infections and more rapid donor site healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D001458:Bandages; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D014945:Wound Healing