ABSTRACT
Background: Carboxymethylchitosan is a chitosan-derivative obtained from the carboxymethylation of chitin with chloroacetic acid in alkaline solution. It has shown its potential in animal model studies as an accelerator of wound healing. Materials and methods: Prospective, comparative clinical trials of traditional tulle gauze, alginate membrane, and carboxymethylchitosan sponge were carried out in the treatment of partial- thickness skin graft donor sites. Between June 2005 and March 2006, 70 donor sites from 44 patients were randomly treated by these three different wound dressing materials. Each wound was treated until it was completely healed, and a visual analogue scale was used for the pain evaluation. Results: The results showed that the donor sites dressed with carboxymethylchitosan or alginate healed more rapidly than those treated with tulle gauze. There was no significant difference in the healing rate between carboxymethylchitosan and alginate. The pain scores evaluated among these three dressing groups did not significantly differ. Conclusion: Carboxymethylchitosan is as efficacious as traditional tulle gauze or alginate membrain in the treatment of partial thickness skin graft donor sites.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Recent studies have already demonstrated experimentally that the topical application of epidermal growth factor (EGF) accelerates the healing of partial-thickness wounds. Although previous studies have proved the effect of recombinant human EGF (rhEGF), the clinical use of rhEGF in case of patients have generated some controversy in advantage. In this study, twelve patients had partial thickness wounds because of burn and skin graft donor site were treated with rhEGF and we investigated the clinical effect of rhEGF on partial thickness wounds of patients. METHODS: We evaluated two groups of patients had partial-thickness wounds. One group (n=5) is consisted of the patients have second degree burn wounds, and the other group (n=7) is consisted of the patients have donor site wounds after skin graft. Each wound was divided two area, one area was applied twice daily with rhEGF and the other area was treated without rhEGF. The extent of reepithelized area was recorded by percentage ratio. And the statistical analysis was conducted about the difference of the number of days between two area until total wound was reepithelized. RESULTS: In the group treated with rhEGF, the mean of time to healing was about 9.75 days, whereas, in the group without rhEGF, it was about 11.08 days. In the number of days until total wound was reepithelized, there were statistically significant difference between two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the topical application of rhEGF accelerated the healing of partial-thickness wound clinically.
Subject(s)
Humans , Burns , Epidermal Growth Factor , Imidazoles , Nitro Compounds , Skin , Tissue Donors , TransplantsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Grafting with autograft skin remains the most effective method for treating skin defects. When insufficient donor sites are present or patients are afraid of the operation, a skin graft is impossible. Cultured allogenic keratinocytes speed wound healing by providing cover and by producing growth factors and extracellular matrix protein. We report an application of cultured allogenic keratinocytes (Kaloderm., Tegoscience, Seoul, Korea) in the treatment of an acute partial thickness skin defect. METHODS: From March 2005 to January 2006, 20 patients with a partial thickness skin defect were treated with cultured allogenic keratinocytes. The wound was covered with a sheet of cultured allogenic keratinocytes and ointment with Bactigras. gauze. The wound was inspected every two or three days. We regarded completion of epithelialization as wound healing. RESULTS: The mean period between time of injury and time of Kaloderm. application was 7.5 days. The time taken from application of Kaloderm. to complete closure of the wounds was 7.2 days. CONCLUSION: In view of the favorable outcome, cultured allogenic keratinocytes are safe and effective biologic dressing materials for use in the treatment of open wounds.