A Simple and Rapid Tie-Over Dressing with Skin Stapler and Round Rubber Band

ABSTRACT

The tie-over dressing is a time consuming work because the long silk sutures get tangled and one must spend time on securing the ends. However it is a necessary procedure for a better take of the skin graft. The skin graft was prepared as a split-thickness graft with or without meshing. After hemostasis of the recipient defect, the prepared skin was placed and tailored for the defect. The skin stapler hold the skin margin, split-thickness graft and a round rubber band in one stitch. And the mesh gauze with ointment was applied over the grafted skin and the bulky moist dressing was applied with fluffy gauze and cotton. Over the bulky dressing the rubber bands crossed over and fixed on the other side of the surrounding edge on the normal skin area by the skin stapler. In case of need, splint and compressive dressing with elastic bandage was applied. From January, 2002 to September, 2002, in 15 patients, this method has been used and proven satisfactory. Skin graft was well taken and the time for tie-over dressing can be reduced markedly. We can ensure the adherence of a skin graft to the bed of the wound by continuous pressure dressing. This technique is simple, fast, and no needs of any special device or dressing materials.