Background: This article is a narrative review of split-thickness skin graft donor site (STSG-DS) management since the international guidelines were created in 2018. Although many new interventions have been developed, there is a lack of quality, multicentered clinical trials to produce updated evidence-based recommendations.
Methods: Electronic databases, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, Medline, and PubMed, were searched by two independent researchers for literature regarding STSG-DS management published from 2018 through 2022, using specific terms in the text, title, and abstract. The primary endpoint assessed was STSG-DS healing, as measured by wound epithelialization.
Results: Thirty-one articles were selected, including three systemic review/meta-analyses, five case series, 14 randomized controlled clinical trials, six observational studies, and three nonrandomized trials. Novel interventions for STSG-DS management included in this article describe applications of human amniotic membranes, acellular dermal matrices, cell suspensions and growth factors, biomaterials, electromagnetic radiation, and natural products.
Conclusion: Various interventions have shown promise for STSG-DS management since the creation of the 2018 international guidelines; however, studies with more standardized protocols and endpoints are needed to produce up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations and improve outcomes for patients undergoing split-thickness skin grafting.
Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.