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 CO 2 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.