Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg · Sep 2005
Comparative StudyA comparison of negative-pressure dressings versus Bolster and splinting of the radial forearm donor site.
Negative-pressure dressings (NPDs) have been reported to improve split-thickness skin graft survival in some settings; we assessed whether NPDs could improve skin graft results in radial forearm donor sites. ⋯ Split-thickness skin graft survival was significantly improved by the use of NPDs. Because the use of NPDs is expensive, we consider their use only in patients with potential wound-healing problems, when there is a need to monitor the hand, or when immediate postoperative hand immobilization might impede the patient's recovery.