VSD负压引流技术结合游离植皮治疗大面积皮肤缺损的 临床疗效研究

目的：研究VSD负压引流技术结合游离植皮治疗大面积皮肤缺损临床疗效。方法：选择2012年4月至2013年10月入我院接受治疗的大面积皮肤缺损患者65例,将其随机分为观察组（35例）与对照组（30例）。观察组患者术前先采用VSD治疗,游离植皮术后继续给予VSD治疗;对照组患者采取打压植皮或传统打包加压治疗。观察和比较两组患者的皮片成活时间、皮片成活率、术后住院治疗时间、换药次数、疼痛评分及家属满意度。结果：观察组患者的皮片成活时间短于对照组、皮片成活率高于对照组、住院时间短于对照组,换药次数少于对照组,两组之间的差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。此外,观察组患者的疼痛视觉模拟评分明显低于对照组,患者家属的满意度评分明显高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：相对于传统的打压植皮或传统打包加压的技术而言,VSD负压引流技术结合游离植皮在治疗大面积皮肤缺损的临床疗效更好,值得在临床上推广使用。     

负压封闭引流技术在腹部带蒂皮瓣供瓣区的应用

目的:探讨负压封闭引流(vaccumsealingdrainage,VSD)技术在腹部带蒂皮瓣供瓣区中的治疗作用。方法:10例上肢深度创面大小为9×6 cm-14×9 cm,创面清创后行腹部带蒂皮瓣移植,皮瓣面积10×7 cm-20×15 cm,供瓣区应用VSD覆盖,医用半透性贴膜封闭整个术区,连接中心负压,持续低负压吸引,每日外用1000 mL生理盐水持续冲洗VSD。约3周后行皮瓣断蒂术,供瓣区植皮。结果:10例皮瓣全部存活,1例患者术后当天引流区域出现疼痛,经止痛治疗后未再出现。1例患者术后2周出现VSD堵塞,经处理后恢复正常引流。无VSD装置更换病例。供瓣区周边皮肤无浸渍及感染现象,VSD撤除后见基底肉芽组织生长新鲜,创面均无感染,移植皮片存活。结论:VSD技术可以有效保护供瓣区,刺激肉芽生长,为后期皮片移植闭合创面提供了良好条件。VSD技术可安全有效的应用于腹部带蒂皮瓣供瓣区。     

皮肤软组织缺损VSD负压引流术的护理

目的探讨VSD负压引流术治疗皮肤软组织缺损的护理措施。方法对我院收治的34例皮肤软组织缺损患者采用VSD负压引流进行治疗护理。结果 34例患者行VSD负压引流治疗时间最短7天,最长14天,治疗后的功能恢复良好。结论 VSD负压引流是治疗皮肤软组织缺损的有效治疗方法,而正确的护理方法是VSD负压引流术治疗成功的保证。     

小腿挤压伤伴撕脱伤23例的临床治疗效果分析

目的:探讨小腿挤压伤伴撕脱伤患者的整体治疗方法,并分析其临床应用价值。方法:回顾性分析我院近5年来收治的23例小腿挤压伤伴撕脱伤患者的临床资料,分别采用行自体皮肤反削回植、异种皮覆盖或封闭负压吸引治疗+二期植皮、知名血管皮瓣转移、单纯清创缝合。结果:23例中,18例Ⅰ期愈合;5例局部皮肤坏死,经换药后Ⅱ期愈合2例,残余创面行植皮后Ⅱ期愈合1例;骨外露者经皮瓣转移修复后Ⅱ期愈合2例。随访3-16月,临床效果满意。结论:对于小腿挤压伤伴撕脱伤,依具体情况采用自体皮肤反削回植、异种皮覆盖或封闭负压吸引治疗+二期植皮、知名血管皮瓣转移、单纯清创缝合等方法修复创面对患者肢体功能恢复有较大的作用,临床效果较好,利于患者康复,具有一定的推广应用价值。     

负压创面治疗技术对皮肤移植成活的临床观察及实验研究

目的:采用负压固定移植皮片方法,观察负压创面治疗技术(negative-pressure wound therapy,NPWT)对游离皮片成活的影响,初步探讨微血管形成与皮肤成活之间的关系。方法:采用回顾性研究的方法,对65例皮肤缺损的患者,根据皮肤移植术后皮片固定方法的不同,分为两组,其中I组为NPWT治疗组,有35例患者,刃厚游离皮片移植术后行创面负压吸引治疗;II组为常规治疗组,有30例患者,刃厚游离皮片移植术后用打包或加压包扎的方式固定。Balb/c小鼠20只,按皮片移植后不同固定加压方式,分为实验组:负压创面治疗技术使用组(10只),对照组:打包加压组(10只),于皮片移植术后第5天,大体观察移植皮片颜色、有无水疱、有无皮下积液及质地,计算并比较皮片成活率,以免疫组化染色标记毛细血管内皮,检测皮片中微血管情况。结果:临床观察表明:I组术后皮片成活时间平均较II组缩短,有统计学差异(P<0.01),I组术后住院治疗时间平均较II组缩短5天,有统计学差异(P<0.01),I组术后抗生素费用、换药次数及换药费用较II组减少,有统计学差异(P<0.01)。动物实验结果表明:术后第5天,实验组小鼠移植皮片中微血管增生较对照组明显增多(P<0.05)。结论:与常规打包或加压包扎固定皮片的方式相比,负压创面治疗技术的应用可以缩短皮片成活时间,缩短患者住院治疗时间,减少抗生素的使用及换药次数,促进移植皮片中毛细血管增生,提高皮片成活率。     

负压创面治疗技术对皮肤移植成活的临床观察及实验研究

目的：采用负压固定移植皮片方法,观察负压创面治疗技术（negative-pressure wound therapy,NPWT）对游离皮片成活的影响,初步探讨微血管形成与皮肤成活之间的关系。方法：采用回顾性研究的方法,对65例皮肤缺损的患者,根据皮肤移植术后皮片固定方法的不同,分为两组,其中Ⅰ组为NPWT治疗组,有35例患者,刃厚游离皮片移植术后行创面负压吸引治疗;Ⅱ组为常规治疗组。有30例患者,刃厚游离皮片移植术后用打包或加压包扎的方式固定。Balb／c小鼠20只,按皮片移植后不同固定加压方式,分为实验组：负压创面治疗技术使用组（10只）,对照组：打包加压组（10只）,于皮片移植术后第5天,大体观察移植皮片颜色、有无水疱、有无皮下积液及质地,计算并比较皮片成活率,以免疫组化染色标记毛细血管内皮,检测皮片中微血管情况。结果：临床观察表明：Ⅰ组术后皮片成活时间平均较Ⅱ组缩短,有统计学差异（P〈0．01）,Ⅰ组术后住院治疗时间平均较Ⅱ组缩短5天,有统计学差异（P〈0．01）,Ⅰ组术后抗生素费用、换药次数及换药费用较Ⅱ组减少,有统计学差异（P〈0．01）。动物实验结果表明：术后第5天,实验组小鼠移植皮片中微血管增生较对照组明显增多（P〈0．05）。结论：与常规打包或加压包扎固定皮片的方式相比,负压创面治疗技术的应用可以缩短皮片成活时间,缩短患者住院治疗时间,减少抗生素的使用及换药次数,促进移植皮片中毛细血管增生,提高皮片成活率。     

腓肠神经营养血管皮瓣修复跟骨骨折术后皮肤软组织缺损的临床研究

摘要 目的：探讨负压引流技术结合腓肠神经营养皮瓣在跟骨骨折钢板内固定术后皮肤软组织缺损的临床效果。方法：回顾性分析我院骨科2012年5月-2020年5月共31例跟骨骨折术后钢板外露,皮肤软组织缺损住院病人。纳入患者均使用负压引流技术结合腓肠神经营养皮瓣修复技术。创面给予彻底清创后行封闭负压吸引引流术,待创面新鲜后以腓肠神经营养皮瓣修复创面。对术后皮瓣成活情况;Maryland功能评分以及BMRC感觉功能评分进行综合评估。结果：术后2周时,28例皮瓣顺利成活,供区与受区伤口愈合良好,干燥、无渗出。3例术后出现皮瓣肿胀,皮瓣颜色发暗,伤口渗出较多,皮瓣边缘坏死,窦道形成等,给予切开引流、加强换药、敏感抗生素控制感染等治疗后,皮瓣成活。术后随访6-24个月皮瓣外观及功能恢复良好,无创面再坏死,裂开,感染等情况出现。其中2例再次入院行皮瓣整形术。术后6个月时,Maryland功能评分：优：17例;良：11例;优良率为：90.3%。BMRC感觉功能评分：S3-S4：20例;S2：8例;S1：3例。结论：腓肠神经营养皮瓣联合封闭负压吸引技术在跟骨骨折钢板内固定术后皮肤软组织缺损的治疗中能够缩短治疗时间,操作简单,疗效确切,可获得良好的修复效果。     

胸腰椎术后感染负压封闭引流治疗研究

目的:探讨在胸腰椎后路内固定手术术后早期伤口感染后使用负压封闭引流技术在保留内固定治疗中的应用。方法:回顾性分析我院2008年1月~2013年6月胸腰椎后路内固定术后感染的14例患者,应用敏感抗生素,保留内固定、彻底清创并结合负压封闭引流治疗伤口感染。结果:14例病人经过采用负压引流术,感染得到控制,内固定得以保留。随访9~36个月,患者感染均未再复发。结论:对于胸腰椎后路内固定术后早期感染,应用负压封闭引流可以有效控制感染,利于伤口的早期愈合,治疗腰椎后路内固定术后感染保留内固定装置治疗行之有效。     

负压封闭引流技术在手外科的临床应用及护理分析

目的:探讨负压封闭引流技术在手外科手术中的应用效果以及护理干预方法。方法:本组抽取我院于2011年8月至2013年8月手外科患者64例,均使用负压封闭引流术治疗,并针对性护理干预,观察患者的治疗效果。结果:本组64例患者行持续封闭引流技术治疗后,创面恢复良好,无1例患者出现感染症状。采用调查问卷的形式对患者的护理满意度进行评价,本组64例患者中,51例满意,占79.69%,13例较满意,占20.21%,护理满意率为100%。结论:加强负压封闭引流技术在手外科的应用,能够降低创面感染的几率,提高护理满意度,值得推广使用。     

游离植皮联合负压封闭引流治疗骨科创面的临床研究

目的:观察游离植皮联合负压封闭引流(vacuumsealingdrainage,后文简称VSD)对骨科创面的疗效,并与植皮后传统加压包扎相比较,为临床实践提供更好的治疗方法。方法:对广州中医药大学第一附属医院创伤骨科2008年3月至2010年2月收治的65例感染创面病例采取手术清创后予VSD引流,合理应用抗生素,创面感染得到控制后,创面干净,肉芽生成良好,外露的肌腱、骨膜表面有新鲜的肉芽组织覆盖,达到植皮的要求后,随机分成两组,其中30例(实验组)采用游离植皮联合VSD法闭合创面,35例(对照组)采用游离植皮加压包扎植皮区,对两组术后的平均换药次数、创面平均愈合时间、植皮成活率情况、平均住院时间(植皮后)、平均抗生素应用次数(植皮后)进行统计学分析,采用t检验和卡方检验,对此两种方法进行评价。结果:植皮联合VSD组与植皮加压包扎组,在平均换药次数、创面平均愈合时间、植皮成活率、平均住院时间(植皮后)、平均抗生素应用次数(植皮后)的对比,有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论:创面达到游离植皮条件后,游离植皮联合VSD负压引流可以促使皮片黏附,保持创面洁净,避免皮下渗液积聚,有利于皮片的存活,与植皮加压包扎组相比,减少了平均换药次数,缩短创面平均愈合时间及平均住院时间(植皮后),减少抗生素平均应用次数,提高了植皮成活率,说明游离植皮联合VSD组优于游离植皮加压包扎组,游离植皮联合VSD法治疗骨科创面有显著疗效。该手术方法操作简单,术后护理方便,是一种较理想的植皮后的固定方法,有利于创面的愈合,值得临床推广应用。     

Relationship of B blood group locus to skin allograft in chickens

Skin grafts were exchanged among 21 genotypic pairs of B blood group locus in the non-inbred chicks of White Leghorn at 5–7 days of age. The mean percentages of B locus compatible pairs were 94.7, 84.2 and 56.8 at the 11th, 15th and 19th days after grafting, respectively. These percentages of survival grafts were significantly higher than those of incompatible pairs. The effects of three B alleles were investigated but the the differences of effects of them were not found in this experiment. Two of the prolonged survival grafts survived for 35 days after grafting and all of the incompatible grafts were rejected the 20th day after grafting. The results of skin graft provided evidence that the B blood group locus was a histocompatibility locus or closely linked to such a locus.     

The role of serum imbibition for skin grafts

Numerous studies of grafted skin suggest that full-thickness skin grafts are nourished by exudate from the recipient bed called a serum imbibition. However, whether serum imbibition by itself is sufficient for nourishment of skin grafts has not been shown definitely and directly. To clarify the role of serum imbibition, we performed a comparative study between 20 skin grafts and 20 musculocutaneous flaps. The nourishment of the cell in the skin graft is by serum imbibition. That in musculocutaneous flaps is mainly derived from blood supply. We evaluated the nourishment by means of the unique characteristics of the cell cycle. Once cells are put into a synthetic phase, they cannot reverse or stop the progress of the cell cycle. To take advantage of this characteristic of the cell cycle, prewounding methods (40 flaps were lifted once and put back to the original sites prior to the evaluation) were intended for the cells in pre-elevated skin to turn into a proliferating phase. Cells were examined by antibody against proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunohistologically, to determine whether they had turned into the proliferating phase or not. After 3 days, all flaps were reelevated; half (20 flaps) had their muscle layer and the neurovascular bundle removed to make a full-thickness skin graft. The rest (20 flaps) were only lifted. They were sutured back to the original sites. Ten skin grafts and musculocutaneous flaps each were harvested at 3 hours (1st day) and at 11 days (11th day) after the second operation. Bromodeoxyuridine, which is a thymidine analog and is taken into the cells in the synthetic phase, was introduced intraperitoneally 2 hours before the harvest. All flaps and grafts were evaluated histologically and immunohistologically. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen analysis showed that the prewounding method induced the cells of skin grafts and musculocutaneous flaps to proliferate before the implantation. Regarding the bromodeoxyuridine uptake, no significant differences could be seen between skin grafts and musculocutaneous flaps irrespective of their different nourishment. No structural changes, such as degenerative or necrotic, could be seen at the hair follicle and other glands even at the 11th day. Almost all of the layers of skin grafts survived as long as they were checked by light microscopy (hematoxylin and eosin stain). No differences could be seen between musculocutaneous flaps and skin grafts or between the 1st and 11th days in this study. We concluded that serum imbibition is sufficient for nourishment of skin grafts, just as blood supply is sufficient for nourishment of musculocutaneous flaps.     

Responses to amputation of denervated ambystoma limbs containing aneurogenic limb grafts

The developing neural tubes and associated neural crest cells were removed from stage 30 Ambystoma maculatum embryos to obtain larvae with aneurogenic forelimbs. Forelimbs were allowed to develop to late 3 digit or early 4 digit stages. Limbs amputated through the mid radius-ulna regenerated typically in the aneurogenic condition. Experiments were designed to test whether grafts of aneurogenic limb tissues would rescue denervated host limb stumps into a regeneration response. In Experiment 1, aneurogenic limbs were removed at the body wall and grafted under the dorsal skin of the distal end of amputated forelimbs of control, normally innervated limbs of locally collected Ambystoma maculatum or axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) larvae. In Experiment 1, at the time of grafting or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 8 days after grafting, aneurogenic limbs were amputated level with the original host stump. At 7 and 8 days, this amputation included removing the host blastema adjacent to the graft. The host limb was denervated either one day after grafting or on the day of graft amputation. These chimeric limbs only infrequently exhibited delayed blastema formation. Thus, not only did the graft not rescue the host, denervated limb, but the aneurogenic limb tissues themselves could not mount a regeneration response. In Experiment 2, the grafted aneurogenic limb was amputated through its mid-stylopodium at 3, 4, 5, 7, or 8 days after grafting. By 7 and 8 days after grafting, the host limb stump exhibited blastema formation even with the graft extending out from under the dorsal skin. The host limb was denervated at the time of graft amputation. When graft limbs of Experiment 2 were amputated and host limbs were denervated on days 3, 4, or 5, host regeneration did not progress and graft regeneration did not occur. But, when graft limbs were amputated on days 7 or 8 with concomitant denervation of the host limb, regeneration of the host continued and graft regeneration occurred. Thus, regeneration of the graft was correlated with acquisition of nerve-independence by the host limb blastema. In Experiment 3, aneurogenic limbs were grafted with minimal injury to the dorsal skin of neurogenic hosts. When neurogenic host limbs were denervated and the aneurogenic limbs were amputated through the radius/ulna, regeneration of the aneurogenic limb occurred if the neurogenic limb host was not amputated, but did not occur if the neurogenic limb host was amputated. Results of Experiment 3 indicate that the inhibition of aneurogenic graft limb regeneration on a denervated host limb is correlated with substantial injury to the host limb. In Experiment 4, aneurogenic forelimbs were amputated through the mid-radius ulna and pieces of either peripheral nerve, muscle, blood vessel, or cartilage were grafted into the distal limb stump or under the body skin immediately adjacent to the limb at the body wall. In most cases, peripheral nerve inhibited regeneration, blood vessel tissue sometimes inhibited, but other tissues had no effect on regeneration. Taken together, the results suggest: (1) Aneurogenic limb tissues do not produce the neurotrophic factor and do not need it for regeneration, and (2) there is a regeneration-inhibiting factor produced by the nerve-dependent limb stump/blastema after denervation that prevents regeneration of aneurogenic limbs.     

负压封闭引流技术对颈部及躯干深度烧伤植皮修复患儿生活质量和血清炎症因子的影响

摘要 目的：观察负压封闭引流技术（VSD）对颈部及躯干深度烧伤植皮修复患儿生活质量和血清炎症因子的影响。方法：选取2016年4月~2020年12月期间我院接收的颈部及躯干深度烧伤患儿70例,采用计算机系统随机编号的方式将患儿分为2组,分别为对照组35例和实验组35例。对照组患儿进行游离植皮后常规包扎处理,实验组患儿进行游离植皮后在VSD下进行包扎处理。考察两组患儿疗效指标。术前、出院后30 d采用36项健康调查简表（SF-36）评估所有患儿的生活质量。术前、术后7d观察两组炎症因子水平变化。记录两组患儿并发症发生率。结果：实验组术后7 d植皮成功率高于对照组,术后住院天数、术后创面愈合时间短于对照组,术后换药次数少于对照组（P<0.05）。出院后30 d,两组患儿生理功能(PF)、总体健康 (GH)、生理职能(RP)、活力 (VT)、躯体疼痛(BP)、情感职能 (RE)、社会功能(SF)及精神健康(MH)评分均较术前升高,且实验组高于对照组（P<0.05）。术后7 d,两组患儿血清白介素-6（IL-6）、C 反应蛋白（CRP）和降钙素原（PCT）水平均较术前降低,且实验组低于对照组（P<0.05）。实验组的并发症总发生率低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：针对颈部及躯干深度烧伤植皮修复患儿,在VSD下进行包扎处理,可提高植皮成功率,缩短住院天数及创面愈合时间,减少换药次数,降低并发症发生率,还可提高患儿生活质量及减轻机体炎性反应,值得临床借鉴。     

Some factors affecting the spread of mycoplasma in plants

Studying the spread of mycoplasma, the causal agent of potato witches' broom disease, in tomato plants after grafting with infectious grafts ofNicotiana glauca Grah., we found that after 9 days of graft symbiosis a hundred per cent infection occurred, whereas with infectious grafts ofSolanum lycopersicum this took place after 16 days. The first symptoms of the disease were manifested on tomato plants 21 days after grafting with infectiousNicotiana glauca grafts and 28 days after grafting with infectious tomato grafts. The results obtained present evidence for the possible preference of tomato plants for mycoplasma.     

游离植皮联合负压封闭引流治疗骨科创面的临床研究

目的：观察游离植皮联合负压封闭引流（vacuumsealingdrainage,后文简称VSD）对骨科创面的疗效,并与植皮后传统加压包扎相比较,为临床实践提供更好的治疗方法。方法：对广州中医药大学第一附属医院创伤骨科2008年3月至2010年2月收治的65例感染创面病例采取手术清创后予VSD引流,合理应用抗生素,创面感染得到控制后,创面干净,肉芽生成良好,外露的肌腱、骨膜表面有新鲜的肉芽组织覆盖,达到植皮的要求后,随机分成两组,其中30例（实验组）采用游离植皮联合VSD法闭合创面,35例（对照组）采用游离植皮加压包扎植皮区,对两组术后的平均换药次数、创面平均愈合时间、植皮成活率情况、平均住院时间（植皮后）、平均抗生素应用次数（植皮后）进行统计学分析,采用t检验和卡方检验,对此两种方法进行评价。结果：植皮联合VSD组与植皮加压包扎组,在平均换药次数、创面平均愈合时间、植皮成活率、平均住院时间（植皮后）、平均抗生素应用次数（植皮后）的对比,有显著性差异（P〈0.05）。结论：创面达到游离植皮条件后,游离植皮联合VSD负压引流可以促使皮片黏附,保持创面洁净,避免皮下渗液积聚,有利于皮片的存活,与植皮加压包扎组相比,减少了平均换药次数,缩短创面平均愈合时间及平均住院时间（植皮后）,减少抗生素平均应用次数,提高了植皮成活率,说明游离植皮联合VSD组优于游离植皮加压包扎组,游离植皮联合VSD法治疗骨科创面有显著疗效。该手术方法操作简单,术后护理方便,是一种较理想的植皮后的固定方法,有利于创面的愈合,值得临床推广应用。     

Treatment of burn scar depigmentation by carbon dioxide laser-assisted dermabrasion and thin skin grafting

Permanent depigmentation occasionally develops after deep partial-thickness and full-thickness burn injuries, which heal by secondary intention. This problem can be solved by dermabrasion and thin split-thickness skin grafting. However, mechanical dermabrasion is a bloody procedure that risks exposing medical professionals to infectious diseases transmitted by blood products, and it is difficult to assess the extent of tissue ablation. In this study, dermabrasion of depigmented burn scar area was performed by using flash-scanned carbon dioxide laser treatment, followed by thin split-thickness skin grafting. This method was applied to 13 patients on whom burn scar depigmentation sites were located as follows: two in the facial area, four on the trunk, and seven on the extremities. Skin graft take was excellent in all patients except for one. The follow-up period for these patients ranged from 1 to 12 months, with an average of 8 months. Repigmentation appeared soon after grafting, and no depigmentation occurred again in the treated areas. In conclusion, depigmented burn scar areas can be dermabraded in a short time; depth of tissue ablation can be well controlled; and a bloodless and smooth raw surface can be created by using a flash-scanned carbon dioxide laser. These raw surfaces sustain thin skin grafts well.     

Histocompatibility studies in pigs from outbred and semi-inbred families

Skin graft experiments with pig siblings from semi-inbred and outbred families confirmed the existence of a pig main histocompatibility system (MHS). Grafts exchanged between serological (lymphocytotoxicity) MHS incompatible siblings from outbred matings survived 5.6 days and between compatible animals 9.8 days. In compatible pairs from semi-inbred matings they survived 22.4 days and in incompatible individuals 6.1 days. Skin grafts exchanged between individuals with E blood group compatibility led to the formation of haemagglutinating and lym-phocytotoxic antibodies reacting with some E antigens. The results indicate that the survival of skin grafts in semi-inbred pigs is apparently influenced also by differences in the E system.     

A prospective, blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial of topical negative pressure use in skin grafting

Topical negative pressure has been demonstrated to improve graft take in a number of noncomparative studies. This study aimed to assess whether split-thickness skin graft take is improved qualitatively or quantitatively with topical negative pressure therapy compared with standard bolster dressings. A blinded, prospective, randomized trial was conducted of 22 adult inpatients of Liverpool Hospital between July of 2001 and July of 2002 who had wounds requiring skin grafting. After grafting, each wound half was randomized to receive either a standard bolster dressing or a topical negative pressure dressing. Skin graft assessment was performed at 2 weeks by a single observer blinded to the randomization. Two patients were lost to follow-up and were excluded from the study. There were 20 patients (12 men and eightwomen) in the study group. The median patient age was 64 years (range, 27 to 88 years), and the mean wound size was 128 cm2 (range, 35 to 450 cm2). The wound exposed subcutaneous fat in eight patients, muscle in six patients, paratenon in four patients, and deep fascia in two patients. At 2 weeks, wounds that received a topical negative pressure dressing had a greater degree of epithelialization in six cases (30 percent), the same degree of epithelialization in nine cases (45 percent), and less epithelialization in five cases (25 percent) compared with their respective control wounds. Graft quality following topical negative pressure therapy was subjectively determined to be better in 10 cases (50 percent), equivalent in seven cases (35 percent), and worse in three cases (15 percent). Although the quantitative graft take was not significant, the qualitative graft take was found to be significantly better with the use of topical negative pressure therapy (p < 0.05). Topical negative pressure significantly improved the qualitative appearance of split-thickness skin grafts as compared with standard bolster dressings.