Objective To assess the effect of silver sulfadiazine cream and calcium alginate combined with elastic bandage dressing on the healing of autologous donor skin graft wounds. Methods Between January and December

2018

96 patients were admitted in our department for autologous skin graft wound management. The patients were randomized equally into experimental group and control group

and in the former group

the wounds in the donor area were dressed with a "sandwich" dressing method using silver sulfadiazine cream and calcium alginate

which were covered with sterile cotton pads and strapped with elastic bandage. In the control group

the wounds were managed with conventional compression dressing using vaseline gauze

sterile cotton pads

and gauze bandage. The displacement of dressings

bleeding and exudation of the wounds

wound healing time

subjective comfort level of the patients

and scar formation were compared between the two groups. Results The rate of displacement of dressings and the volume of wound bleeding and exudation were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the control group

the experimental group showed significantly higher wound healing rates at 7

10 and 12 days after the surgery(P<0.05) with a shortened wound healing time(P<0.05)

a higher subjective comfort level(P<0.05)

and significantly lower VSS scores at 3 and 6 months after wound healing(P<0.05). Conclusion Dressing donor skin graft wounds with the "sandwich" bandaging using silver sulfadiazine cream and calcium alginate combined with elastic bandage can effectively prevent the displacement of the dressing

reduce wound bleeding

shorten the wound healing time

improve the subjective comfort

and reduce scar formation.