Comparison of Dressing Materials of Donor Site of Split-thickness Skin Graft; Paraffin Mesh Gauze vs Povidone-Iodine Foam at SMBB Institute of Trauma Karachi

A sterile, medical-grade open-cell polyurethane foam will be cut to fit the split-thickness skin graft donor site and soaked in 3% povidone-iodine solution immediately before application. The foam dressing will be applied to the donor site under aseptic conditions and secured with a sterile secondary dressing of gauze and crepe bandage.

The initial dressing will be left undisturbed for 7 days unless early change is required due to bleeding, leakage, loosening, or signs of infection. The donor site will first be assessed on day 7, and subsequently every alternate day until complete re-epithelialization. At each assessment, the dressing will be changed only if clinically indicated.

A sterile paraffin-impregnated mesh gauze dressing will be applied directly over the donor site under aseptic conditions. The dressing will be covered with sterile secondary gauze and secured with crepe bandage. The initial dressing will be left undisturbed for 7 days unless early change is required for bleeding, leakage, or infection. The donor site will be assessed on day 7 and every alternate day thereafter until complete re-epithelialization, and the dressing will be changed only if clinically indicated.