Local insulin-zinc injection accelerates skin donor site wound healing

BACKGROUND: Systemically administered insulin has been shown to accelerate wound healing. To minimize the hypoglycemic and hypokalemic effects of insulin, we investigated a new route of insulin administration by local injection into skin wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Partial thickness skin donor site wounds were created on the backs of adult rabbits with a dermatome set at 0.015 inch. The wounds were covered by Aquaphor gauze (Smith and Nephew, Largo, FL), and OpSite membrane (Smith and Nephew, Hull, United Kingdom) and protected by rabbit jackets. Long-acting insulin-zinc suspension was selected for local injection. In study 1, insulin was injected into the wound at different doses, and the concentrations of blood glucose and wound insulin were measured to determine the proper dose and injection frequency. In study 2, wound healing days were compared between two groups (n = 7 each) receiving local injection of either insulin-zinc or zinc alone as control. Based on the results from study 1, a dose of 0.25 units of long-acting insulin-zinc suspension was injected into the wound every other day in the insulin group. RESULTS: After injection, 0.25 units of insulin decreased blood glucose concentration (minimum 60 mg/dL) during the first 3 h, which then returned to the preinjection level (80 mg/dL). One injection maintained wound insulin concentration above 50 muU/mL for more than 24 h. With local injection of 0.25 units insulin-zinc every other day, the wound healing time was 11.2 +/- 2.3 d, which was faster (P = 0.02) than 15.1 +/- 4.1 d in the control group. CONCLUSION: Local injection of long-acting insulin-zinc suspension accelerated skin wound healing without major systemic side effects, demonstrating its potential usefulness in burn treatment.     

Australasian survey of split skin graft donor site dressings

BACKGROUND: There is an ever increasing array of products available for wound dressings. The aim of the present study was to establish which dressings should be used as standard controls for future studies; what factors are regarded as most important in assessing a dressing; what the level of satisfaction is with the available products; what the strengths and weaknesses of the commonly used dressings are; and what dressings would be preferred if cost were no issue. METHODS: A postal survey was sent to every plastic and reconstructive surgeon registered in Australasia (n = 217). A total of 53% responded. RESULTS: The most commonly used dressing type overall is the calcium alginates, despite the fact that they were not the highest performing dressings. This is also the most commonly used in Australia. In contrast scarlet red is still used most commonly in New Zealand. The level of satisfaction with the most commonly used dressing varied very little. The factor regarded most important was patient comfort level. A profile of the commonly used dressing was constructed. Calcium alginates and or scarlet red should be used as the control for new product comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the respondents were satisfied with their preferred dressing and were not interested in trying alternative dressings.     

Effects of a silicone-coated polyamide net dressing and calcium alginate on the healing of split skin graft donor sites: a prospective randomised trial

An open randomised prospectively controlled trial was performed to assess the healing efficacy, slippage rate and degree of discomfort on removal of calcium alginate and a silicone-coated polyamide net dressing on split skin graft donor sites. Sixteen patients were randomised to the calcium alginate group and 14 to the silicone-coated group. The donor sites were assessed at days 7, 10, 14 and up to day 21. The mean time to healing in the calcium alginate group was 8.75 +/- 0.78 days (range 7 to 14 days) compared to 12 +/- 0.62 days (range 7 to 16 days) for the silicone-coated group (p < 0.01). Although more silicone-coated dressings slipped (5 versus 1), the difference was not statistically significant. Pain during the first dressing change was assessed using a visual analogue pain scale. Although no significant differences were found between the groups, it was necessary to change the dressing protocol in the silicone-coated arm of the trial after entering the first two patients. Overlaid absorbent gauze adhered to the donor site through the fenestrations in the dressing necessitating the placement of paraffin gauze between the experimental dressing and the overlying cotton gauze. There was one infection in the study, occurring in the alginate group. Based on these results we recommend calcium alginate as the dressing of choice for split skin graft donor sites.     

新型敷料在供皮区创面的应用

在烧伤整形外科中,游离皮片移植术后存在供皮区本身的修复问题,如取皮留下的创面过大,该创面愈合时间较长,容易继发感染,形成瘢痕挛缩,最终影响美观甚至带来功能障碍等风险。目前,临床治疗中为促进供皮区创面良好愈合,减少瘢痕的增生,常常通过对供皮区创面应用敷料达到这一目的。随着对创面愈合机制的研究深入,人们认识到使用敷料不仅能覆盖创面,而且能促进创面愈合。在这种观点的指导下,人们尝试在创面运用不同的敷料。     

密闭性敷料与凡士林油纱对皮片供皮区创面愈区的比较研究

目的 观察密闭性敷料所造成的密闭液性环境对皮片供皮区创面愈合的影响。方法 以成人断层皮片供皮区创面为研究对象,采用自身对照法,应用临床观察、组织学、组织化学及电镜观察等方法。结果 密闭环境下创面愈合较快,其炎症反应较重,巨噬细胞出现较早较多,持续时间较长。结论 密闭环境下创面愈合早期的炎症反应较重,巨噬细胞出现较早较多,与促进创面愈合有关。     

湿性敷料促进供皮区创面愈合的临床研究

目的观察湿性敷料对供皮区创面愈合的作用.方法对42例患者行大腿外取皮,将供皮区创面分为治疗组即用湿性敷料覆盖及对照组即用凡士林纱布覆盖,分别观察治疗组和对照组供皮区创面的愈合时间.结果创面愈合的平均时间,治疗组为(10.2±2.7)天,对照组为(12.4±1.5)天,两者比较P＜0.01差异有显著意义.结论湿性敷料能促进供皮区创面的愈合.     

湿性敷料促进供皮区创面愈合的临床研究

目的　观察湿性敷料对供皮区创面愈合的作用。方法　对 4 2例患者行大腿外取皮 ,将供皮区创面分为治疗组即用湿性敷料覆盖及对照组即用凡士林纱布覆盖 ,分别观察治疗组和对照组供皮区创面的愈合时间。结果　创面愈合的平均时间 ,治疗组为 (10 .2± 2 .7)天 ,对照组为 (12 .4± 1.5 )天 ,两者比较P <0 .0 1差异有显著意义。结论　湿性敷料能促进供皮区创面的愈合。     

A comparison of calcium alginate and scarlet red dressings in the healing of split thickness skin graft donor sites

Forty-six patients had split thickness skin grafts harvested from the upper inner thigh. Calcium alginate (Kaltostat) and scarlet red dressings were applied to each half of the wound. Dressings were changed after 10 days and healing of the donor site was assessed. Seventy-two per cent of wounds dressed with calcium alginate and 84% of wounds dressed with scarlet red were healed at 10 days. Scarlet red was shown to be significantly better than Kaltostat in the healing of split thickness skin graft donor sites when assessed at 10 days (p less than 0.04).     

功能性敷料促进供皮区创面愈合的临床研究

目的:观察功能性敷料对供皮区创面愈合的作用。方法:对48例患者行大腿外取皮,将供皮区创面分为治疗组即用功能性敷料覆盖及对照组即用凡士林纱布覆盖,分别观察治疗组和对照组供皮区创面的愈合时间。结果:创面愈合的平均时间,治疗组为(9.2±1.2)天,对照组为(13.3±2.6)天,两者比较P<0.01差异有显著意义。结论:功能性敷料能促进供皮区创面的愈合。     

Enhanced cryoprecipitate for skin graft and donor site wound healing in pigs

Due to similarities in skin characteristics, the authors hypothesise that a pig model would most accurately show the ability of autologous, enhanced cryoprecipitate (eCryo) to improve the wound healing of split‐thickness skin grafts (STSGs) and corresponding donor sites. Fifty‐two STSGs (5 × 5 cm) were fashioned and treated according to a randomised protocol with an autologous eCryo‐treated and a control group. Macroscopic assessment, histological evaluation and cellular composition were completed at days 7, 14, 21 and 28. Thirty‐two donor sites were also created and assessed in a similar manner. Histologic analysis showed enhancement of healing over all time points for eCryo‐treated donor sites. All other results showed no statistically significant improvement with the use of eCryo. Autologous cryoprecipitate appears to be a safe, inexpensive and easy‐to‐use alternative to fibrin glue, which carries risks and is, in many cases, prohibitively expensive. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the full potential of eCryo. Interestingly, eCryo application may improve donor site aesthetic appearance. We believe that a pig model most reliably simulates eCryo's behaviour in humans to accurately reflect its future clinical applicability.     

Cellophane--a dressing for split-thickness skin graft donor sites

Cellophane paper has been used as a dressing for split-thickness skin graft donor sites in 251 patients between October 1985 and December 1989. Twelve donor sites in 10 patients were observed in detail to assess the usefulness of this material. The results of the study are presented and the merits and disadvantages of this dressing material have been discussed. In the opinion of the authors the cellophane paper dressing was found to be most satisfactory. It is also cheaper than the newly available dressing materials for the skin donor area.     

Banana leaf dressing for skin graft donor areas

Skin grafting is an integral part of burn wound management. The pain experienced at skin graft donor sites is significant. Banana leaf dressing (BLD) developed by our unit in 1996 is an excellent, non-adhesive, pain-free, cheap and easily available dressing material. We conducted a trial to compare efficacy of BLD with vaseline gauze (VG) dressing used by majority of burns centers for dressing skin graft donor areas. Thirty patients undergoing skin grafting were included in the study. BLD was applied on one half and VG on the other half of the donor area. Dressing change was done on the eighth day. Using the visual analogue scale we assessed the pain score, the dressing removal pain score and ease of dressing removal score. The advantage of early epithelisation of donor areas cannot be over stressed in burnt patients. The epithelisation status of the donor area on eight post-operative day was noted. The day of complete epithelisation was also noted. The average pain score with BLD was 1.1+0.71 while that with VG was 6.9+0.84. The average dressing removal pain score was 0.97 with BLD while that with VG it was 9.47. Ease of dressing removal score average was 1.1 with BLD while it was 9.53 with VG. In all the above scores the difference observed was statistically significant with P<0.001. The mean complete epithelisation day was 8.67 in the BLD covered areas as compared to 11.73 in the VG covered areas. This observation was highly significant with P<0.001. Our study clearly indicates that BLD is a completely non-adherent and painless dressing. We strongly recommend the use of BLD for all skin graft donor areas.     

Alteration of split skin graft contraction with a synthetic dressing

Summary In a rat model, covering a split skin graft with a synthetic dressing for only one week alters the subsequent contraction characteristics of the underlying wound so that the graft increases in size in a manner similar to a full thickness skin graft.     

Which dressing for split-thickness skin graft donor sites?

There is currently little agreement among surgeons regarding the dressing of choice for split-thickness skin graft donor sites, though many are available. In this article, I review the five major groups of dressings, open, semiopen, occlusive, semiocclusive, and biological. The different dressings in each group are described in terms of physiological basis for use, advantages, disadvantages, and practical application. Conclusions are reached regarding which donor site dressings might come closest to optimal for common clinical situations.     

An alternative dressing material for the split-thickness skin graft donor site: oxidized regenerated cellulose

The split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor sites have been treated with various and plenty of dressing techniques and materials. An ideal STSG donor site dressing should have antibacterial, hemostatic, and promoting epidermal healing properties. We have performed a prospective study to evaluate the effect of the oxidized regenerated cellulose on STSG donor site healing. Between January 2002 and January 2005, 40 patients who were operated in any kind of reconstructive operations with STSG donor sites were included in the study. One half of the wound was covered with oxidized regenerated cellulose and the other half of the same wound of the same patient was covered with fine mesh gauze treated with Furacin (nitrofurazone). The patients were grouped into 2 depending on the dressing technique: group I, semiclosed and group II, closed. The wounds were evaluated for healing time, infection, pain perception of the patient, and final esthetic results. The oxidized regenerated cellulose side of the group I was healed in a mean of 6.5 +/- 0.51 days; in group II, 5.4 +/- 0.50 days (range, 5-6 days). The fine mesh gauze treated with Furacin in group I was healed in a mean of 9.9 +/- 0.97 days (range, 8-11 days); in group II, 8.4 +/- 0.99 days (range, 7-10 days). There was a statistical significance between the oxidized regenerated cellulose side and the fine mesh gauze side (P < 0.001) in group I and group II separately. The difference between group I and group II was statistically significant in the oxidized regenerated cellulose side (P < 0.001), and the difference between group I and group II was statistically significant in the fine mesh gauze side (P < 0.005). The antibacterial, hemostatic, and absorbable property of the oxidized regenerated cellulose could ensure the utilization as an alternative STSG donor site dressing, especially because the positive influence over the wound healing was proven.     

Intravenous arginine and human skin graft donor site healing: a randomized controlled trial

Background and aims

Studies evaluating the effect of arginine supplementation in human wound healing are inhomogeneous with conflicting results. This study aims to clarify the role of arginine supplementation in the healing of human skin graft donor sites.

Methods

35 subjects undergoing skin autografting were randomly assigned to receive intravenous arginine (n = 16) or placebo (n = 19) for 5 days in a dose of 30 g of arginine or an isovolumetric amount of placebo (25.2 g of alanine). Wound healing was evaluated at the donor sites by objectifying angiogenesis, reepithelialization and neutrophil influx. Plasma amino acid concentrations were measured to evaluate our intervention.

Results

The two groups were comparable in age, morbidity and nutritional, metabolic and inflammatory state. Plasma arginine and alanine levels increased significantly upon supplementation in the two groups, respectively. No differences were found between the arginine supplementation group and the placebo group in the studied parameters. Placebo vs. arginine; mean ± SD: neutrophil influx on day 2: 6.67 ± 3.0 vs. 6.57 ± 3.3, p = 0.66; angiogenesis on day 10: 8.0 ± 2.8 vs. 8.9 ± 3.1; reepithelialization in % on day 10: 81 ± 8.5 vs. 85 ± 7.1.

Conclusion

Intravenous arginine supplementation does not improve angiogenesis, reepithelialization or neutrophil influx in healing of human skin graft donor sites.