Feasibility of TRPM8 Agonist Agent for Management of Skin Graft Donor Site

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Wound healing and scar management of donor site after skin graft should not be overlooked. Patients continue to complain of dryness, itching sensation. Such discomfort can cause irritation to the patients and lead to delayed healing or secondary infection. Thus, the author predicted Eucalyptus Oil, which acts on Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 8 would be effective in regulating scar by reducing itching sensation in donor site when combining conventional silicone materials.METHODS: The study was performed on 30 patients who underwent split thickness skin graft with lateral thigh as donor site between January 2017 and August 2018. First, primary evaluation of fully epithelized donor site scar three weeks after surgery was conducted. Control group (n=15) applied silicone gel (Kelo-cote, USA) solely two times a day. study group (n=15) applied Eucalyptus oil, combined with silicone gel. After 3 months of follow up, donor scar was evaluated using Vancouver scar scale and VAS scores of subjective patient reports regarding pain and itching sensation.RESULTS: It was confirmed that both groups showed stable scar improvement comparing scar quality for 3 months. After 3 months, scar quality in study group showed superiority in pigmentation, pliability and pruritus compared to control group.CONCLUSION: Application of Eucalyptus Oil combined with conventional silicone gel is favorable to scar management and may give additional benefit of alleviating pruritis symptoms.