Topical Aloe vera gel significantly demonstrated accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor site healing. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Topical Aloe Vera Gel for Accelerated Wound Healing of Split-Thickness Skin Graft Donor Sites: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial and Systematic Review."
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018 Mar 30. Epub 2018 Mar 30. PMID: 29649056
Chairat Burusapat
BACKGROUND: Aloe vera has been used to treat wounds since ancient times. However, the efficacy of Aloe vera for burns and split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor sites are inconclusive.
METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted. Patients who underwent STSG harvesting from the thigh were included. STSG donor sites were divided into two groups: Aloe vera group and placebo group. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score evaluated pain and complete epithelialization was assessed. We searched electronic databases and included only international clinical trials published in the English language.
RESULTS: Twelve patients with 24 donor sites participated. Times to complete epithelization for the Aloe vera and placebo groups were 11.5 + 1.45 and 13.67 + 1.61 days (p<0.05). VAS scores after wound dressing for the Aloe vera and placebo groups were 17.18 + 13.17 and 18.63 + 11.20. No statistical significance was found between groups. Five articles met the inclusion criteria: four involved burns and one involved STSG donor sites. Three studies of burn wounds demonstrated improved epithelization and one did not. The STSG donor site study indicated that wound healing time for the control group was significantly different from that of the Aloe vera and placebo groups. The healing rate was not statistically different between groups.
CONCLUSION: Topical Aloe vera gel significantly demonstrated accelerated STSG donor site healing but did not show significant pain relief.