The Split Skin Graft Donor Site: Can Pretreatment with Vitamin a Cream Help?

Abstract

Background

A skin graft donor site that heals rapidly with less cosmetic sequelae is of particular benefit to children with burns. Vitamin A cream has been shown to speed up healing after controlled ‘burns’ (dermabrasion and CO₂ laser) if it is applied six weeks before treatment.

Objective

To assess whether pretreatment with vitamin A cream increases the rate of healing of split skin graft donor sites in children with burns.

Methods

Prospective study of children with hot water burns of 8% to 30% that required split thickness skin grafting. Vitamin A cream was applied bidaily to one thigh and/or buttock of each child for five to seven days before skin grafting. At surgery, equal thickness grafts were harvested from both thighs and/or buttocks. Biopsies were taken from each thigh and/or buttock and were sent for histological analysis. The rate of donor site healing was monitored clinically and with serial photographs.

Results

No difference in the rate of healing was noted between the treated and untreated sides by either histological or clinical criteria.

Conclusions

Vitamin A cream applied bidaily for a period of five to seven days did not affect the healing rate of the split skin graft donor sites in children with burns.