Efficacy and safety of vacuum sealing drainage combined with skin grafting for the treatment of limb burns

Abstract

Objective: Exploring the efficacy and safety of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) combined with skin grafting for limb burns.

Methodology: This retrospective cohort study collected clinical records of 140 patients with limb burns who underwent skin grafting surgery in Yongkang First People’s Hospital from November, 2021 to October, 2024. Among them, 70 patients who received the first stage VSD combined with the second stage skin grafting treatment (VSD group) were matched in a 1:1 ratio with the queue of patients who received a traditional dressing change treatment combined with the second stage skin grafting treatment (conventional group). The healing time, granulation growth time, length of hospital stay, scar hyperplasia (as assessed by the Vancouver Scar Scale, VSS), degree of pain and incidence of complications were compared.

Results: The healing time, granulation growth time, length of hospital stay and VSS score of the VSD group were lower than those of the conventional group (P<0.05). The VAS scores of the VSD group were lower compared to the conventional group at one, three and seven days after treatment (P<0.05). VSD combined with skin grafting was associated with a significantly lower (18.6%) incidence of complications than the conventional treatment (34.3%) (P<0.05).

Conclusions: VSD combined with skin grafting is safer than the traditional treatment approach and is more efficient in shortening the wound healing process and reducing pain and scar formation in patients with limb burns.