Average Hospital Stay After Split-Skin Graft Procedure
The average hospital stay after a split-skin graft procedure ranges from 13.5 to 17 days for general wounds, though this can be reduced to less than 1 day (0.9 days average) for lower-extremity burns when using specialized techniques with early ambulation.
Hospital Stay Duration by Clinical Context
Standard SSG Procedures
- Median hospital stay is 13.5 days when negative pressure closure (NPC) dressing is used at -80 mm Hg, compared to 17 days with standard dressings without negative pressure 1
- The use of NPC significantly shortens hospitalization while also reducing graft loss 1
Lower-Extremity Burns with Early Mobilization Protocol
- Hospital stay can be reduced to an average of 0.9 days (range 0-3 days) when using early tangential excision combined with Unna boot application to fresh skin grafts 2
- This approach allows ambulation to begin 24 hours postoperatively with graft take rates of 85-100% 2
- No regrafting was required in patients treated with this protocol 2
Factors Affecting Hospital Stay
Wound Healing Timeline
- Complete reepithelialization of the donor site typically takes 14-21 days on average, which influences the overall recovery period 3
- Faster healing of the donor site wound correlates with more favorable patient-reported outcomes and potentially shorter stays 4
Technical Considerations
- The type of wound dressing used does not significantly affect reepithelialization speed or wound healing disorder rates, despite wide variation in practice patterns 3
- Selection of wound dressing is typically based on individual expert experience rather than standardized protocols 3
Clinical Pitfalls to Avoid
- Avoid prolonged immobilization for lower-extremity grafts when early ambulation protocols can safely reduce hospital stay from weeks to less than 1 day 2
- Consider implementing negative pressure dressing systems to reduce both graft loss and hospital stay duration 1
- Be cautious with regrafting donor sites in healthy young individuals, as long-term aesthetic outcomes may be inferior despite short-term benefits 5