Use of a new hemicellulose dressing (Veloderm®) for the treatment of split-thickness skin graft donor sites -: A within-patient controlled study

A multi-centre, open, within-patient controlled study was performed on 23 adult burnt patients to investigate the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of Veloderm (R) in comparison with Algisite M (TM) and Jaloskin (R) in split-thickness skin graft donor site care. The areas dressed with Veloderm(g) completely healed within 10-13 days in a significant higher proportion than the other two dressings (47.6% for Veloderm (R) versus 26.3% for Algisite M (TM) and 10% for Jaloskin (R), P < 0.03), showing during the whole study less incidence of exudates and of peri-lesional erythema. The aesthetic outcome of the treated lesions after healing was significantly better for Veloderm (R) (P = 0.0016). Veloderm (R) and Jaloskin (R) required very few renewals of the medication during the first week of treatment, while Algisite M (R) needed several multiple re-dressings. Veloderm (R) was judged better than the other two treatments as far as the acceptability (P < 0.001), ease of use (P < 0.001) and efficacy (P < 0.00001). Both pain during application or at removal of dressings and local infections were negligible with all treatments. No scars were formed in any skin donor site. In conclusion Veloderm (R) is a safe and effective dressing for the re-epithelialization of the skin graft donor sites: it showed higher activity than the other two compared dressings. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.