Effect of Early Change of Skin Graft Dressing on the Burn Wound Healing

Abstract

Background: Burn injuries are one of the medical problems in developing countries. Despite the progress in burn wound treatment, the leading cause of death in patients with burns is hospital-acquired infection. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of early change of skin graft dressing on the burn wound healing. Methods: This Randomized clinical trial was conducted on 64 burn patients admitted to the burn ward of Shahid Rajaei Hospital in 2017. In the test group (Mean±SD of age=36.8±13.8 years), the skin graft and donor dressing were changed one day after; and in the control group (Mean±SD of age=40.4±14.3 years), three days after the surgery. Data were analyzed by paired t-test, independent t-test and ANOVA. Findings: The percentage of burn in the intervention group was 12.1%, and in the control group 14.5%. Chi-square test results showed that the culture results was different in the control and test groups; 7.8% of the cultures taken from the skin graft and donor sites were positive in the control group, while none of them were reported positive in the test group. Conclusion: Early change of the skin graft and donor dressing reduces infection in patients with burn injuries.