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Figure 1 ‘Radicoat’ (a) Acticoat� being meshed 2:1 witha conventional skin graft mesher. (b) The appearance ofthe meshed Acticoat�.

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SURGICAL TIP

‘Radicoat’-meshed Acticoat� allows exudate todrain

Acticoat� (Smith and Nephew, Hull, UK) is an antimicro-bial dressing often used on burn injuries, especially after

skin grafting. One problem is that standard Acticoat� iswaterproof and non-absorbent, leading to the trapping ofexudate below the dressing.

We have solved this problem by meshing Acticoat�with a skin-graft mesher (Figure 1). The holes createddo not allow for any great degree of expansion ofthe dressing, but exudate can drain freely. We callthis dressing ‘Radicoat’ after its inventor (RadoslawBielecki). The mesher does need to be rinsed welllater.

Declaration

We have no financial interests or other conflict ofinterest to declare.

James HendersonAddenbrooke’s Hospital,

Cambridge, UKE-mail address: jh@jameshenderson.net

Radoslaw BieleckiBruce Philp

Broomfield Hospital, Chemsford, UK

ª 2008 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive andAesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2008.07.023