Skin Graft Care

For All Skin Grafts 

Watch for signs and symptoms of infection. 

• Redness (about 1 inch wide) and swelling around the burn. 

• Foul smelling drainage from the wound. 

• Flu-like symptoms. 

  • Fever over 100.4º by mouth for two readings 4 hours apart

  • Chills

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Muscle aches

  Increasing pain that is not relieved by pain medicine.

Care of a Skin Graft with or Without a Bolster or Splint 

• Keep the graft elevated to prevent swelling which could damage the new skin graft. 

• Keep the bolster or splint dry. You may clean around the bolster site by sponge bathing with mild soap and water. 

• Take your prescribed medicine to control pain. 

• Activity guidelines: ____________________________

Care of a Skin Graft After First Dressing is Removed 

• Wash with mild soap and water starting on ____________. 

• Apply moisturizing lotion ___________ to keep new skin from drying or cracking. Air out graft for ___________.

• Apply Wound Veil to graft site. 

• Wrap graft with non-stretch roller gauze. 

• Apply compression _____________.

Who to Call

For questions Monday through Friday 8 am - 5 pm please call the General Surgery and Burn Clinic at 608-264-8040.

After hours call the burn unit nurses at 608-263-1490 or call 608-262-2122 and ask to have the burn resident paged.

If you have non urgent questions after hours, you can leave a message the for the triage nurse at 608-263-7502. The toll-free number is: 1-800-323-8942.

If you are a patient receiving care at UnityPoint – Meriter, Swedish American or a health system outside of UW Health, please use the phone numbers provided in your discharge instructions for any questions or concerns.