Topical heparin has shown positive effects on the healing of burn wounds, but its impact on skin graft donor sites has not been studied. 

A study compared the healing outcomes of topical heparin treatment with conventional treatment in burn patients undergoing skin grafting. 

Here, 40 patients with second- or third-degree burns were included; each patient served as their own control. One donor area was treated with topical heparin, while the other received conventional treatment. The results showed that the heparin-treated donor areas had significantly shorter healing time and less scarring compared to the control areas. Pain, itching and infection rates were slightly lower in the heparin-treated area, but the differences were not statistically significant. No bleeding or significant changes in platelet count were observed. 

In conclusion, topical heparin treatment after skin grafting in burn patients led to improved clinical outcomes, including shorter healing time and reduced scarring, without any complications.

Source: El-Badawi AM, Aboul-Fotouh SM, Abdelsalam AM, Hammad MR. Impact of topical heparin on healing of skin graft donor site in burn patients. QJM: An Int J Med. 2021;114 Suppl 1:i322.