Evaluation of the Use of Minced Skin Grafts for Promoting Donor Site Wound Healing After Split-Thickness Skin Grafting

Split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) is one of the most commonly performed procedures to achieve wound closure. Most studies are concerned on improving the appearance of scars and shortening the healing time of the recipient sites. However, the management of the donor site usually takes a second consideration. There is a lack of consensus on the recommended method of donor site management. Donor site morbidity of STSG is usually minimal, but that may not always be the case. Morbidity may include pigmentary abnormalities, prolonged pain and itching, delayed healing, or unfavorable scarring. So, an effort must be taken to find the optimal solution for donor site healing and minimize morbidity. Small portions of the skin graft left at the end of the procedure or the graft pieces obtained after trimming the edges are usually discarded. There have been some studies demonstrating the benefit of the minced residual skin graft on the donor site, possibly resulting in earlier epithelialization and improving the appearance

The aim of this study is to compare the duration of wound healing, scar quality and cosmetic results of donor sites after split-thickness skin grafting with and without the use of residual graft pieces as minced skin grafts.