Comparison of calcium sodium alginate (KALTOSTAT) and porcine xenograft (E-Z DERM) in the healing of split-thickness skin graft donor sites.

In a controlled, prospective study, calcium sodium alginate and porcine xenograft were compared in the treatment of split-thickness skin graft donor sites on 20 patients. Half of each donor site was dressed with each material. Time to complete healing, quality of regenerated skin and patient comfort were assessed. Time to healing was 8.1 days with alginate and 11.3 days with porcine xenograft (P less than 0.001). Quality of healed skin was consistently good with the alginate, and better than under the xenograft in 95 per cent of patients (P less than 0.001). Hypertrophic scarring was not observed under alginate dressings but occurred in 25 per cent of xenograft-dressed sites (P less than 0.01). In addition, evidence was found that allergic reactions to porcine xenograft could occur. Alginate was preferred by 75 per cent of patients and none preferred porcine xenograft (P less than 0.01); the remainder had no preference. It was concluded that porcine xenograft is inferior to calcium sodium alginate as a dressing for split-thickness skin donor sites.