Associated use of silicone–vitamin E gauzes and α‐tocopherol acetate oil in healing of skin graft donor sites

Split‐thickness skin graft is one of the most used procedures in plastic surgery. This procedure involves numerous painful dressings at the donor site. α‐Tocopherol acetate has anti‐oxidative and anti‐inflammatory properties and it can reduce the local bacterial growth, thereby promoting wound healing. We designed a prospective study to evaluate the effects of two different kinds of dressings at skin graft donor sites. A total of 30 patients were subjected to daily dressings with α‐tocopherol acetate oil and traditional moist gauzes (group 1). Another 30 patients were subjected to dressings every 4 days with α‐tocopherol acetate oil and silicone–vitamin E gauzes (group 2). Healing time, infection rate, patient's pain perception and costs were evaluated in both the groups. No statistically significant difference was found in terms of healing time. The infection rate was slightly different in the two groups. Significant reduction of pain perception was detected in group 2. In the same group, significant reduction in the total cost of the treatment was also observed. α‐Tocopherol acetate oil and silicone–vitamin E gauzes may represent a safe, simple, painless and inexpensive method for improving skin graft donor site healing.