Integra® wound matrix (thin) for skin graft donor site management: a pilot comparative study

Background Split-thickness skin grafts (STSG) are an integral tool in reconstructive surgery. However, donor site management remains challenging, and a standard approach has not yet been established. This is the first study to compare clinical outcomes of a collagen-glycosaminoglycan dermal matrix and a semi-occlusive transparent film dressing for STSG donor site management. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of 20 patients who underwent STSG procedures between January 2020 and June 2021. Donor sites were managed with either a semi-occlusive film dressing ( n = 10) or with the dermal matrix ( n = 10). Outcomes included time to epithelialization, frequency of dressing changes, need for narcotic pain medication and treatment-related adverse events. Statistical analysis included Fisher's exact test, analysis of variance, and log-rank tests. Results There were no significant differences between groups with respect to age, sex, comorbidities, or donor site size. The dermal matrix group demonstrated a significantly faster time to epithelialization (11.6 ± 1.3 days) compared with the semi-occlusive dressing group (18.1 ± 2.6 days; P < 0.0001). Dressing changes were significantly reduced in the dermal matrix group, with 30% requiring a single change compared to 100% in the semi-occlusive dressing group ( P < 0.0001). Although not statistically significant, narcotic use was lower in the dermal matrix group (20.0% vs 60.0%; P = 0.0750). No treatment-related adverse events occurred. Conclusion The collagen-glycosaminoglycan dermal matrix significantly accelerated donor site epithelialization and reduced dressing changes compared to semi-occlusive film dressings. These findings suggest that collagen-glycosaminoglycan dermal matrices may improve postoperative outcomes. Further studies are warranted to substantiate these findings and assess broader applicability.