title: Dressed to heal: new options for graft site dressing.
abstract: To ensure the close apposition and immobilization required for survival of full thickness skin grafts, the traditional method is to use pexing sutures or tie-over pressure dressings. In certain areas, such as around the eye, other methods are required because either a concave or convex surface prevents adequate pressure, or the use of sutures as ties produces distortion of anatomical free margins. Alternative dressing methods include; telfa chips kept in place by a pressure pad; calcium alginate (which has the advantages of assisting haemostasis and absorbing serous discharge) under a pressure pad; and extra thin hydrocolloid dressings which decrease slough and are less conspicuous than other dressings.
authors.affiliation: Toowoomba Eye and Skin Clinic, Australia.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000464:Alginates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001458:Bandages / Q000145:classification; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003102:Colloids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004867:Equipment Design; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006085:Graft Survival; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013499:Surface Properties; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003102:Colloids; D006490:Hemostatics; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D020723:Glucuronic Acid