SILICONE GEL SHEETING FOR STABILIZATION OF SKIN-GRAFTS

BACKGROUND. Success of skin grafts depends on sufficient im mobilizati on and early intervention for hematoma, seroma, or infection. OBJECTIV E. To stabilize and cover skin grafts with a tie-over technique using translucent silicone gel sheet. METHODS. Twenty-seven skin defects wer e resurfaced with skin grafts. A sterile silicons gel sheet was placed over the skin graft. Gel was fixed to the wound edges with skin stapl ers. RESULTS. All grafts healed without any complication. CONCLUSION. Using silicone gel sheeting on 27 skin grafts, we found that it is an effective method for stabilization and allows direct visualization of the graft in order to inspect hematoma-like complications. (C) 1998 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.