Double-blinded Prospective Randomised Controlled Trial of Split Skin Graft Donor-Site Dressing: Altrazeal vs. Kaltostat

INTERVENTION: Novel Transforming Powder Dressing, Altrazeal (TM), is a dressing type that comes in powder form, which is immediately applied onto the thigh after split skin graft had been harvested. It is then dressed with secondary dressings including gauze and mefix. All dressings are left intact for at least 2 weeks until reviewed in outpatient clinic. It is a once‐only dressing which will not require a repeat application unless the initial dressings comes off prematurely as a result of significant haematoma. CONDITION: Dressing of split skin graft donor sites which are secondary skin defects created as a result of having to reconstruct skin defects after excision of skin neoplasm, burns, infection, trauma or other dermatological conditions PRIMARY OUTCOME: Patient’s experience of pain arising from donor sites from postoperative day 2 ‐ 5, and day 14 using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). SECONDARY OUTCOME: Assessment of scars at donor site on postoperative week 6 using Vancouver Scar Scale. Patient satisfaction scored on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being very dissatisfied to 5 being very satisfied. Rate of donor‐site wound infection for each product. Diagnosis of wound infection is based on clinical symptoms of erythema, increasing pain, warmth and positive biochemical markers for inflammation (CRP, WCC), requiring antibiotics, either orally or intravenously. Rate of wound healing at the donor site dressed with Novel Transforming Powder, Altrazeal (TM) and Calcium Sodium Alginate, Kaltostat (TM), measured by the proportion (percentage) of healed wound out of the total DSW surface upon assessment on postoperative day 14. “Healed wound” defined as re‐epithelialized wound surface (i.e. no areas of exudates/scabs). INCLUSION CRITERIA: Participants will be adults (aged 18 years or older) undergoing split skin grafting at Dandenong Hospital. To be included, patients will have a traumatic wound or large skin neoplasms in lower limbs requiring excision leaving a skin defect of at least 10cm2.