Outcome of combined use of topical coconut oil and oral gabapentin to control post-operative itching on split thickness graft donor site

Objective: To determine the efficacy of combined use of topical coconut oil with oral gabapentin to control postoperative itching on split thickness skin graft donor site. Study Design: Descriptive case series Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Jinnah Burn & Reconstructive Surgery Centre, Lahore from June 2014 to December 2015. Materials and Methods: 65 patients having itching over donor site for split thickness skin graft after healing of the wound. Patients having Itch man’s score more than 2 were given topical coconut oil three times a day to massage over the donor area. At the same time, patient should use oral gabapentin 300 mg at night on first day, 300 mg 12 hourly on 2nd day and 300 mg 8 hourly on 3rd day. Itching was assessed after one week of start of therapy and efficacy was noted as yes or no. Results: Efficacy (Itch man’s score is 0 after one week start of therapy) was seen in 41 (63.08%) patients while remaining 24 (36.92%) had shown no efficacy. Conclusion: This study concluded that efficacy of combined use of coconut oil and gabapentin to control itching at donor site of split thickness skin graft is very high.