A new method of skin-graft stabilization: the reston technique

We describe a new staple-on dressing technique for skin-graft stabilization, using gas-sterilized polyurethane foam as bolster material. The method has all the attributes of a satisfactory skin-graft dressing: compression to prevent hematoma and seroma, resistance to shear forces, splinting properties, and protection from the outside environment. Although we have not completed a randomized, prospective study, skin-graft "take" appears to be excellent in most cases. The technique is cost effective, and application requires a fraction of the time required for a traditional bolster dressing.