Randomised controlled trial comparing three different donor site dressings (Sorbact, Cuticerin, Algisite) in paediatric patients undergoing split skin grafting for burn injury in terms of time to re-epithelialisation, pain and itch while dressing on, ease of application, care, and removal, cosmetic appearance of donor site and cost

This trial was designed to determine which donor site wound dressing was preferred in children. All three dressings in this trial - Sorbact, Algisite M, Cuticerin - were in use in the Pegg Leditschke Children's Burns Centre prior to the trial starting. 101 children were prospectively enrolled in the trial, and characteristics of healing and scarring were assessed with respect to each dressing. There were no significant differences identified across the three dressings; pain, time to re-epithelialisation, itch, scarring, or cost. Younger patients healed more rapidly than older patients. Thinner skin grafts resulted in better scars at three and six months. These data are limited to children, and do not show one dressing to be superior to another. As this is was designed as a superiority trial, we do not have the data to be able to state that each dressing is equivalent.