Management of split skin graft donor sites--results of a national survey.
The authors wished to obtain a 'snapshot' of the range of practice in the management of split skin graft donor sites in the British Isles.


METHODS
Questionnaires were sent to all British consultants and locum consultant plastic surgeons on 1 July 2006. Of the 357 questionnaires, 279 were returned (a response rate of 78%).


RESULTS
Alginates were the most popular dressings, especially in adult donor sites--first choice for 167 respondents (60%). Adhesive fabrics were less popular--first choice for small adult donor areas for 46 respondents (16%). Plastic film dressings and Biobrane were even less popular--being the first choice for small and large donor areas, respectively, in children (for approximately 5% of respondents). Ten percent of respondents said they avoid paraffin gauze and another 10% avoid plastic film dressings in all cases. Five percent avoid hydrocolloid and another 5% avoid adhesive fabric in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of these results, we feel that any future study of donor-site dressings should incorporate the most commonly used dressing (alginate) as a control.
Geary
P M
PM
Odstock Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Salisbury District Hospital, Odstock, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ, UK. pmgeary@hotmail.com
Tiernan
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000464:Alginates; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001458:Bandages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014945:Wound Healing
D000464:Alginates; D000779:Anesthetics, Local