Use of Minced Residual Skin Grafts to Improve Donor Site Healing in Split-Thickness Skin Grafting.

Background The morbidity of the donor site in split-thickness skin graft (STSG) may include abnormal pigmentation, delayed healing, and unfavorable scarring. Studies are usually focused on improving the healing of the recipient site, so donor site management becomes a secondary consideration. An optimal solution should be sought for donor site management to improve healing and minimize morbidity. Methods In this study, we used minced residual skin grafts over half of the donor site (cases) and compared the healing duration and scar quality with the other half (control). Healing duration was measured in days and the scar quality was assessed by the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) at 90 days, 180 days, and 360 days. Results The healing time was reduced with the application of minced residual skin grafts on the donor site. The scar quality was significantly better in the case group as compared to the control group at 90 days, 180 days, and 360 days (p<0.05). Conclusion Mincing residual skin grafts and replacing them back to the donor site reduces the healing time and improves the quality of the scar.