Articles Vol. 67 No. 7 26/07/2026

CHARACTERISTICS OF WOUND HEALING AT THIGH DONOR SITES FOLLOWING SPLIT-THICKNESS SKIN GRAFT HARVEST USING CALCIUM ALGINATE HYDROCOLLOID DRESSINGS AT VIET DUC UNIVERSITY

Vu Trung Truc1,2, Trinh Xuan Dan3,4, Nguyen Vu Hoang3,4, Nguyen Duc Thang3,4
1 VietDuc University Hospital
2 Bệnh viện Hữu nghị Việt Đức
3 Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy
4 Trường Đại học Y dược, Đại học Thái Nguyên
DOI: 10.52163/yhc.v67i7.5884
112 Views
0 Downloads
Keywords
Split-thickness skin graft, donor site management, calcium alginate hydrocolloid.
Abstract

Objectives: To describe wound healing outcomes at thigh donor sites following split-thickness skin graft (STSG) harvest using calcium alginate hydrocolloid dressings at Viet Duc University Hospital.

Subjects and Methods: A prospective longitudinal descriptive study was conducted on 47 patients undergoing treatment for donor-site wounds after STSG harvest at the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, and the Department of Septic Surgery, Viet Duc University Hospital, from October 2024 to June 2025.

Results: The mean age was 38.2 ± 19.3 years, with males accounting for 74.5%. The mean VAS pain score was 4.7 ± 1.2 on postoperative day 1 and decreased to 0.7 ± 0.3 by postoperative day 7 (p < 0.05). The average number of dressing changes was 2.6 ± 1.3, with 74.5% of patients requiring fewer than three changes. The semi-occlusive membrane detached mainly within 7–10 days (76.6%). The wound infection rate was 2.1%. A good care outcome at the donor site was observed in 89.4% of patients. Long-term evaluation showed a higher proportion of good outcomes at T4 compared to T3 (34.0% vs. 27.7%).

Conclusions: The use of calcium alginate hydrocolloid dressings for donor-site care appears feasible and safe, with a trend toward reduced pain over time, fewer dressing changes, and a low complication rate. Most patients achieved favorable care outcomes during the follow-up period.

References
[1]
B. S. Atiyeh, S. N. Hayek, and S. W. Gunn, "New technologies for burn wound closure and healing—review of the literature," (in eng), Burns, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 944-956, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2005.08.023 Google Scholar
[2]
A. Alsaif, M. Karam, A. A. Aldubaikhi, A. Alghufaily, K. Alhuwaishel, and S. Aldekhayel, "Polyurethane Versus Calcium Alginate Dressings for Split-Thickness Skin Graft Donor Site: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," (in eng), Cureus, vol. 13, no. 11, p. e20027, Nov 2021, doi: 10.7759/cureus.20027. Google Scholar
[3]
A. I. Attwood, "Calcium alginate dressing accelerates split skin graft donor site healing," (in eng), British journal of plastic surgery, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 373-9, Jul 2019, doi: 10.1016/0007-1226(89)90001-5. Google Scholar
[4]
S. Läuchli, J. Hafner, S. Ostheeren, D. Mayer, M. J. Barysch, and L. E. French, "Management of split-thickness skin graft donor sites: a randomized controlled trial of calcium alginate versus polyurethane film dressing," (in eng), Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland), vol. 227, no. 4, pp. 361-6, 2023, doi: 10.1159/000356122. Google Scholar
[5]
M. R. Caruso, G. D’Agostino, S. Milioto, G. Cavallaro, and G. J. J. o. M. S. Lazzara, "A review on biopolymer-based treatments for consolidation and surface protection of cultural heritage materials," (in eng), vol. 58, no. 32, pp. 12954-12975, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2005.08.023 Google Scholar
[6]
D. C. Sanches-Pinto, W. M. Mota, D. S. Gomez, and R. Gemperli, "529 Collagen Plus Alginate Wound Dressing for the Treatment of Split-thickness Skin Graft Donor Sites: A Cost-effectiveness Study," (in eng), Journal of Burn Care & Research, vol. 41, no. Supplement_1, pp. S102-S102, 2020, doi: 10.1093/jbcr/iraa024.158 Google Scholar
[7]
N. V. T. Nguyễn Thị Mai Hương, "Đánh giá kết quả chăm sóc vùng lấy da ghép da mỏng tại Bệnh viện Bỏng Quốc gia," (in vi), Tạp chí Y học Việt Nam, vol. 478, no. 2, pp. 15-22, 2019. https://doi.org/10.51298/vmj.v524i1A.4605 Google Scholar
[8]
R. Bienias et al., "A real-world study of a calcium alginate dressing for various wound etiologies on clinical performance, usability, and safety," (in eng), Wounds, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 26-31, Feb 2023, doi: 10.25270/wnds/22057. Google Scholar
[9]
B. R. Da Costa, P. Saadat, R. Basciani, A. Agarwal, B. C. Johnston, and P. Jüni, "Visual Analogue Scale has higher assay sensitivity than WOMAC pain in detecting between-group differences in treatment effects: a meta-epidemiological study," (in eng), Osteoarthritis Cartilage, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 304-312, Mar 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2020.10.004. Google Scholar
[10]
S. H. Ki, S. H. Ma, J. H. Choi, S. H. Sim, and H. M. Kim, "Treating skin graft donor sites: a comparative study between remnant skin use and polyurethane foam," (in eng), Journal of Wound Care, vol. 28, no. 7, pp. 469-477, 2019. https://doi.org/10.12968/jowc.2019.28.7.469 Google Scholar
[11]
W. J, "Dressings for donor sites after split-thickness skin grafting," 2013. Google Scholar
[12]
A. Schulz et al., "A prospective clinical trial comparing Biobrane® Dressilk® and PolyMem® dressings on partial-thickness skin graft donor sites," (in eng), Burns, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 345-355, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2014.12.016 Google Scholar
[13]
Y. Bian et al., "Wound-healing improvement by resurfacing split-thickness skin donor sites with thin split-thickness grafting," (in eng), Burns, vol. 42, no. 1, pp. 123-130, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2015.07.008 Google Scholar
[14]
J. C. Dumville et al., "Dressings for the prevention of surgical site infection," (in eng), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 12, 2016. doi/10.1002/14651858.CD00 Google Scholar
[15]
M. E. Shaileshkumar, P. Mirji, G. Vishwanath, S. I. Basarkod, C. Joshi, and R. Patil, "A Clinical Trial to Assess the Efficacy of Hydrocolloid versus Paraffin Gauze Dressing for Split Thickness Skin Graft Donor Site Treatment," (in eng), Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, vol. 6, pp. 72-75, 02/01 2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2021.02.014 Google Scholar
[16]
J. E. Brown and S. L. Holloway, "An evidence-based review of split-thickness skin graft donor site dressings," (in eng), International wound journal, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 1000-1009, Dec 2018, doi: 10.1111/iwj.12967. Google Scholar