British journal of plastic surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
A comparative investigation of re-epithelialisation of split skin graft donor areas after application of hydrocolloid and alginate dressings.
The performances of hydrocolloid and alginate dressing materials have been compared in a study of 65 split skin graft donor areas. The donor areas were randomised between the two dressing materials. The rates of epithelialisation, the discomfort experienced by the patients and the convenience of the dressings in clinical use were compared. ⋯ The mean time from operation to the observation of complete healing was 10.0 days for the donor areas dressed with the hydrocolloid and 15.5 days for the donor areas dressed with the alginate: this difference was found to be statistically significant. The discomfort experienced by the two groups of patients was comparable. The rapid healing associated with the hydrocolloid dressing was thought to be of greatest benefit to inpatients; alginate dressings were thought to be more suitable for outpatients, as they proved to be simpler to use.
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
A comparison of calcium alginate and scarlet red dressings in the healing of split thickness skin graft donor sites.
Forty-six patients had split thickness skin grafts harvested from the upper inner thigh. Calcium alginate (Kaltostat) and scarlet red dressings were applied to each half of the wound. ⋯ Seventy-two per cent of wounds dressed with calcium alginate and 84% of wounds dressed with scarlet red were healed at 10 days. Scarlet red was shown to be significantly better than Kaltostat in the healing of split thickness skin graft donor sites when assessed at 10 days (p less than 0.04).
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Local adipofascial turn-over flaps with skin grafts were successfully used to reconstruct complicated skin defects over the dorsum of the foot in 7 patients. The blood supply of the flap comes from perforators in the base and from the surrounding subcutaneous and fascial plexuses. A new concept of base-to-flap area ratio is proposed to predict the survival of the turn-over flaps in addition to the conventional base-to-length ratio. This appears to be a valuable technique for difficult wounds of the dorsum of the foot.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of room temperature and body temperature local anaesthetic solutions.
The injection of local anaesthetic solutions is painful. We report the results of a blinded randomised controlled trial comparing the pain of injection of local anaesthetics at room temperature and body temperature. The results show that local anaesthetic solution injected at body temperature produces significantly less pain than local anaesthetic injected at room temperature.
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Case Reports
Ascending scapular flap and its use for the treatment of axillary burn scar contracture.
A new ascending scapular island flap, based on the superficial circumflex scapular vessels, and its use for the repair of axillary burn scar contracture are presented. Seven flaps in six cases are discussed and evaluated in comparison with alternative procedures.