Surgery – Truss – Pad
Patent
1981-11-09
1984-11-06
Apley, Richard J.
Surgery
Truss
Pad
128118, 604 23, 604305, 604385, A61F 1300
Patent
active
044806388
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cushion for pressing skin grafts to the surface of the human body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the surgical grafting of skin portions, especially when a full-thickness skin transplantation is performed, it is of critical importance that uniform pressure be applied to the graft over the entire area thereof to press the transplanted skin firmly against the respective surface area of the human body. Such evenly applied pressure must be maintained from six to eight days, with slight individual variations being permissible. It is known to use for this purpose a pressure dressing which includes a cushion which is larger than the section of the grafted skin so that the graft over its entire surface area is evenly pressed against the lesion. (Ferris Smith: Plastic and Reconstruction Surgery, W. B. Saunders Co., 1950, pages 26 and 27. )
This procedure, however, has certain disadvantages. Since the familiar cushions are made of rubber, the accumulation of albumin secretions between the cushion and the surface of the graft is encouraged, and the cushion prevents air from reaching the surface of the graft. Moreover, even with the most scrupulous care it is not always possible to protect the surface area of the cushion in contact with the grafted skin from the effects of the pressure exerted by the bandage, resulting in the formation of folds in the cushion, especially when the skin portion is grafted onto a strongly curved body part. Such folds in the cushion cause corresponding impressions or similar folds on the transplanted skin which remain visible even after complete healing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing disadvantages and to provide a pressure dressing for use with skin grafts. This is accomplished according to the invention in that the cushion is provided with a cutout or window on the side facing the body, and that the window is at least approximately as large as the grafted skin section.
In applying the pressure dressing, the cushion is placed in such a manner that its aperture or window comes to lie over the skin graft. The edge of the window is adhesively fastened to the skin. It may additionally be stitched onto the skin and the points of stitching may further be sealed off with an adhesive or the like if the stitches are located in the region of the window edge so as to ensure a complete sealing thereof.
The cutout or window is of the same general shape as the skin graft. Some embodiments of the invention provide for the cutout to be somewhat smaller than the skin graft so that the edge of the cutout or window is disposed on the skin graft. Alternatively, the window may be slightly larger than the skin graft in which case the window edge is disposed on the heathly skin. The graft may in conventional fashion be sutured along the edge of the wound. However, suturing is not required if, according to the first embodiment of the invention, the edge of the window is adhesively attached not only to the edge of the skin graft, but also to the surrounding healthy skin.
The benefits of the cushion according to the invention are, first, that the area of the skin outlined by the open window will not perspire, and the secretion of albumin and other substances is either prevented or will not lead to skin irritations, because the area of the skin graft is ventilated through the window. Furthermore, it is possible to supply the grafted skin through the window with oxygen or a nutrient solution, to promote or appropriatedly direct the healing process. Finally, it will be appreciated that there will be no fold formation in the cutout area of the cushion, namely, over the grafted skin, so that this disadvantage of the prior art cushion is eliminated. If the side of the cushion opposite the open communication afforded by the window, i.e. facing away from the body surface is made of a transparent material, the window will permit a visual observation of the healing process, i.e. the degree of blood
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Apley Richard J.
Macey Harry J.
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