• Sang Wha Kim, Ji Hun Kim, Jeong Tae Kim, and Youn Hwan Kim.
• Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
• J Wound Care. 2018 Jul 2; 27 (7): 417-420.

ObjectiveThe split-thickness skin graft (STSG) is commonly used for reconstruction of skin and soft tissue defects. For a successful graft, the thin skin must be in close contact with the recipient bed until the graft stabilises. This study introduces a simple and fast dressing technique, and compares it with the traditional tie-over dressing.MethodAll patients who received STSGs between January 2013 and March 2015 were identified. From these patients, those who were treated with skin graft only were included in the study. For comparison of the dressing techniques, operation times from skin incision to the end of procedure were analysed, together with the outcomes of the grafts. For the simple and fast method, the dressing was fixed with a skin stapler, and for tie-over dressings, the graft was fixed with sutures.ResultsA total of 67 patients (38 females, 29 males), mean age 58.4 years (range: 24-86 years) were included in the study. Average operation times were 22.9 minutes (range: 10-40 minutes) using the simple and fast dressings and 45.3 minutes (range: 20-120 minutes) using the tie-over dressings, demonstrating a significant difference in operation times. Partial graft loss was reported in three cases with the tie-over dressings and in four cases with the simple and fast dressings, without significant difference.ConclusionThe simple and fast dressing is easy to apply, is able to be shaped according to the wound surface, and provides a secure dressing over the skin graft.

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