Moti Harats MD, Tanya Motiei R.N, M.A, Oren Weissman MD, Josef Haik MD MPH Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and The Burn Unit, Sheba Medical Center ISRAEL

1. Treatment of Split Thickness Skin Graft
Donor Sites with a Combined Alginate
and Carboxymethyl Cellulose Dressing
Moti Harats MD, Tanya Motiei R.N, M.A, Oren
Weissman MD, Josef Haik MD MPH
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
and The Burn Unit, Sheba Medical Center
ISRAEL

2. Background
• Following split thickness skin graft procedures, donor
sites tend to bother patients excessively due to long
healing periods, local tenderness and pain during
dressing changes.
• Recently a new combined alginate and carboxymethyl
cellulose dressing, Seasorb (Coloplast UK LTD,
Peterborough, United Kingdom), has emerged for local
wound care. Here in we present the experience we have
had with Seasorb in the treatment of skin graft donor
sites.

3. Methods
• Twelve patients underwent Split Thickness Skin
Graft (STSG) were included. Seasorb Soft was
immediately placed on STSG donor site after
surgery, dressing was changed on the 2nd and 5th
Post-Operative Day.
• Epithelization rates, Daily pain measurements
(VAS Scale), Bleeding, Infection, Complications
and patient overall comfort rates were obtained.

4. Patient’s Results
Gender Age Diabetes Smooking Donor Site Donor TBSA% Days to Epithelization VAS Score Bleeding Infection Complications General Satisfaction
1 Male 33 No No Thigh 3% 5 0 No No No 4
2 Femal 80 Yes No Thigh 1% 6 0 No No No 5
3 Male 66 No Yes Thigh 2% 5 0 No No No 5
4 Femal 83 No No Thigh 1% 5 0 No No No 4
5 Femal 65 No No Thigh 2% 5 0 No No No 5
6 Femal 33 No Yes Thigh 4% 5 0 No No No 4
7 Femal 33 No No Thigh 2% 4 0 No No No 5
8 Femal 40 No No Thigh 1% 5 0 No No No 5
9 Femal 86 No No Thigh 1.50% 5 0 No No No 5
10 Male 90 No No Thigh 1% 6 0 No No No 4
11 Femal 81 Yes Yes Thigh 1% 7 0 No No No 4
12 Male 62 Yes No Thigh 2% 5 0 No No No 4

5. Results
• Average healing time was 5.25 days, ranged from
4-7 days, until complete re-epithelialization was
obtained.
• All patients reported very low levels of pain (VAS
pain scale 0-10).
• Average Total Body Surface Area of donor site was
2% (1-4%).
• The Overall Satisfaction of the patient after full
recovery was very high, average of 4.5 (1 – 5
Scale).

6. Results
• In one case a green excretion without any clinical
signs of infection appeared on donor site when the
dressing wasn't kept dry, which required a different
type of dressing.
• No clinical infections, Bleeding or adverse events
were reported.
• Both clinician and patients had a good overall
impression of SeaSorb Soft and in all cases the
nurses reported favorably to choosing SeaSorb
Soft for future treatment of these kinds of wounds.

7. Patient’s Results
• Female, 86 year old
• Donor Properties: Location – Left Thigh, TBSA – 1.5%
• Days to Epithelization: 5 days
• No Complications, Pain (Vas Score) – 0, Overall Satisfaction – 5/5
Post Operative Day 0 Day 2 of treatment Day 5 of treatment

8. Patient’s Results
• Female, 33 year old
• Donor Properties: Location – Right Thigh, TBSA – 2%
• Days to Epithelization: 4 days
• No Complications, Pain (Vas Score) – 0, Overall Satisfaction – 5/5
Post Operative Day 0 Post Operative Day 4

9. Discussion
• Seasorb Soft appears to be effective and safe in the
management of skin-graft donor sites. The main
advantages were pain relief, expedited healing, easy
and non-painful dressing changes and overall comfort.
• Further research with larger patient volumes are still
needed to verify these findings.