Comparison of Two Methods of Securing Skin Grafts Using Negative Pressure Wound Therapy: VAC and GSUC

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized study will be conducted. The investigators expect the duration of data collection to be 2 years.

1. PATIENT SELECTION

Adult patients of any sex, hospitalized at the University of Chicago Medical Center, requiring split thickness skin autografts with wounds that are amenable to placement of an occlusive dressing for negative pressure therapy will be eligible to participate in the study. If both the patient and the primary treating surgeon agree to participate, they will receive informed consent. Pregnant women, children under 18 years of age and other patients who are "vulnerable" as defined by the Institutional Review Board will not be eligible for the study. 2. STUDY PROCEDURE

Preoperative Procedures:

Patients with wounds requiring skin grafting will enter the trial upon consent of the patient and the preoperative decision by the surgeon to secure the skin graft with negative pressure therapy. Upon entry, the primary physical therapist will be immediately informed of a study participant and will place either the G-SUC or VAC dressing at the conclusion of the operation. The randomization scheme will be prepared by the study statistician using computer generated random numbers. The surgeon will be blinded to the treatment modality until the primary physical therapist places the randomized therapy.