Hydrogel-impregnated dressings for graft fixation: A case series

Objective: Infection is the second most common cause of graft loss after skin grafting. Cutimed Sorbact is a range of dressings coated with a hydrophobic fatty acid that irreversibly binds to the bacterial surface and mechanically removes bacteria from the wound. The dressing is a hydrogelimpregnated material, which prevents wounds from drying. Here, we report on cases in which we used the gel instead of the widely used petrolatum gauze or paraffin gauze in a tie-over dressing for the fixation of grafted skin. Method: Patients treated for skin grafting between March 2013 and July 2013 were treated with the hydrogel-impregnated dressings and a tie over dressing. The wounds were opened five days after treatment. Results: In total seven patients were treated with an age range of 23-86 years old. No infections were seen and the method was effective regardless of wound size, the thickness of the skin harvested and condition of the defect. Conclusion: Using this hydrogel-impregnated dressings, provide antibacterial and moisturising effects simultaneously, which a petrolatum or paraffin gauze cannot provide. Declaration of interest: There were no external sources of funding for this study. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.