Evaluation of Fibrin Glue in Split Thickness Skin Graft Fixation

Authors

1 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: The skin, a complex organ composed of progenitor cells, is a crucial barrier to sensory and immune functions. Aim and objectives: To assess the efficacy of fibrin glue in fixation of split-thickness skin graft through a comparative single-blinded control study. Patients and methods: This prospective, interventional, single-blinded control study was conducted on 20 patients with a raw area due to either post-burn that had healthy granulation tissue or post-traumatic defects in need for coverage by split-thickness skin graft in the Plastic Surgery Department at Al Zahraa University Hospital. Results: The total rate of complications was only 35% in the areas fixed with fibrin glue, and 65% of the cases showed no complications. On the other hand, the control areas showed a 60% rate of complications, and only 40% of the controls came free of complications. There was a highly significant difference regarding the time consumed in the graft fixation between fibrin glue and conventional (control) (P value >0.001). Conclusion: Fibrin glue is a good tool in skin graft fixation. It provides water-tight sealing, thus reducing the rates of seroma and hematoma formation and subsequently improving the skin graft take. It also reduces the operative time and post-operative pain. The relatively higher cost of fibrin glue preparation than the conventional methods of skin graft fixation represents a major limitation of its use.

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