Use of Duoderm in the treatment of skin graft donor sites. Comparative study of Duoderm and tulle gras
Champsaur, A.; Amamou, R.; Nefzi, A.; Marichy, J.
Annales de Chirurgie Plastique et Esthetique 31(3): 273-278
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0294-1260 PMID: 2435216 Document Number: 284594
Duoderm was studied in comparison with tulle gras on skin graft donor sites in the Burns Unit of Hospital Edouard Herriot in Lyon. This study was conducted in 20 patients with virtually symmetrical sites treated simultaneously with either tulle gras for Duoderm; each patient acted as his or her own control. The skin graft was required for treatment of a burn in 19 cases (one of which was treated by secondary surgery) and for removal of a tatoo in one case. The donor sites have never been used previously. The mean healing time was 10.4 .+-. 1.7 days with tulle gras compared with 6.8 .+-. 1.1 days with Duoderm, which was a significant difference (p < 0.01). The mean re-grafting time, interval separating successive graft donations from the same site, was 15 days for tulle gras compared with 10 days for Duoderm. After Duoderm, the new epidermis was homogeneous, uniformly smooth, non-desquamating and rapidly solid and therefore suitable for further graft donation. The mean number of occlusive Duoderm dressings used until complete healing was 3.6 per patient. Exsudate did not interfere with healing; however, the volume of exsudate can be reduced by local haemostatic techniques (fibrin glue, compression at the time of graft collection) and by maintaining compression on the Duoderm dressing by means of a "Nylex" bandage. No cases of secondary infection were observed in this series of 20 cases, which is particularly important in burn patients. In conclusion, the advantages of Duoderm are: the improved quality and rapidity of healing, the absence of secondary infection and the undeniable comfort of this type of dressing for the patient.