Comparative Study between Collagen and Conventional Vaseline Gauze Dressing: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Any type of dressing that reduce pain, decrease need of analgesics, frequent dressing changes due to soakage, early mobilization and decreased hospital stays postoperatively are in demand. At our center after harvesting of split thickness skin graft (SSG), donor site wound are covered with conventional fine meshed Vaseline gauze but now different studies have shown collagen dressings to have some superior outcome when used on donor site after skin harvest but studies are elusive. With the help of this study we are trying to compare between the Vaseline gauze dressing with collagen dressing and on the basis of its findings propose an ideal dressing material for donor site after harvesting SSG.

METHOD: Total 48 patients (24 in each group) were randomized for collagen or Vaseline gauze dressings over donor site after harvesting of skin graft. Postoperatively, donor site pain and pain during dressing removal of donor site was evaluated using visual analogue score (VAS) by ratings of 1-4 corresponding to mild pain, 5-6 to moderate pain, and 7-10 to severe pain. Other factors further evaluated for need of analgesics, early epithelialization of donor site, dressing soakage of donor site and early mobilization from the day of operation and followed up to 15th post-operative day (POD).

RESULT: The age of the patients enrolled in this study ranged from 20 to 60 years with 26 males. The level of pain perception in collagen group was less than Vaseline gauze dressing group from the first post-operative day. All the patients in collagen dressing group was pain free by post-operative day 15 therefore decreasing the requirement of analgesics in the collagen group. Adhesion of the outer gauze dressing was less in the collagen group and there was less pain during the dressing changes. Early epithelialization was seen in the collagen group and the mobilization could be achieved from 1st post-operative day in the same group.

CONCLUSION: Collagen dressing is better than Vaseline gauze dressing as it promotes early healing, reduces post-operative donor site pain, promotes early mobilizations and reduces the requirement of analgesics.