The effect of the application of growth factors on wound contraction : An experimental study in a fibroblast-populated collagen lattice

Many investigators have reported that collagen gel contraction reflects the mechanism of wound contraction. In 1995, Tsai et al. reported that hypertrophic scar-derived fibroblasts in a connective tissue model possessed the greatest contraction potency when compared with those of normal skin and normal oral mucosa-derived CTMs. In this study, we studied the effect of collagen gel contraction by growth factors such as epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-bata1, and transforming growth factor-bata3, Skin fibroblasts used in this study were obtained from the explant of rat skin culture. Fibroblasts were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Growth factors were added per FPCL in the desired concentrations and we measured the collagen gel diameters in growth factor-treated FPCL on day 1,2,3, and 4 respectively after starting incubation. We examined the effects of EGF, PDGF, TGF-bata1, TGF-bata3 and the effects of combinations of TGF-bata1 + EGF, TGF-bata1 + PDGF, and TGF-bata1 + TGF-bata3 to contract a collagen gel. EGF has little influence on collagen gel contraction. TGF-bata1 and TGF-bata3 increase the collagen contraction. TGF-bata1 enhanced the contractility of collagen gel according to the concentrations. While TGF-bata3 alone had stimulatory contraction effects at low dose, high doses of TGF-bata3 decreased the potency of collagen gel contraction. A combination of TGF-bata1 and EGF minimally decrease TGF-bata1 activity. A combination of TGF-bata1and PDGF had an effect similar to TGF-bata1 activity. A combination of TGF-bata1 and TGF-bata3 decreased TGF-bata1 activity. According to reports that FPCL contraction is equivalent to the process of wound contraction, growth factors which enhance gel contraction may be related to wound contraction and wound healing. TGF-bata1 is reported to enhance scar formation in fetal wound. EGF accelerates wound healing and inhibits the promotion of hypertrophic scar formation. Compared to the effect of collagen gel contraction in this study, the combination of TGF-bata1 and TGF-bata3 that inhibited the promotion of collagen gel contraction are thought to diminish the formation of scar tissue. As well, EGF that has not enhanced collagen gel contraction is thought to diminish the production of scar tissue. We will study the interactive effects of TGF-bata3, EGF and TGF-bata1 on the contraction of collagen gels in the future.

Sacral pressure sore treatment with gluteal perforator-based flap

Sacral pressure sores have been treated by a variety of surgical methods. complete treatment needs wide excision and coverage with healthy tissue which has constant and sufficient blood supply. Use of gluteus maximus muscle flap with or without overlying skin is a revolutionary method because of the reliability of blood supply. However, it is technically a little bit complicated, and future reconstruction for recurrent decubitus is especially limited in paraplegic patients. The development of gluteal perforator-based flap with para-sacral perforator introduce a new treatment modality for the sacral pressure sores. Total 10 cases of sacral pressure sores were treated with gluteal perforator-based flap. There were minimal postoperative complications except wound dehiscence in one case. This flap has a many advantage of no transection or sacrifice of the gluteus maximus muscle, elevation time for the flap is short, reliable blood flow of the perforator, large rotation arc and no post-operative hindrance to walking in patients who are not paraplegic. The disadvantages of this perforator-based flaps are the anatomical variation in the location of perforators and the need for technically careful dissection.

THE APPROACH OF SKULL BASE LESIONS IN THE VIEW POINT OF PLASTIC SURGERY

Skull base surgery has developed through the evolution of imaging, anatomic research, surgical approach and reconstructive techniques. The basic disciplines of approaching skull base lesions are provide direct vision, minimizing brain retraction, excellent exposure and minimal blood loss. The focus of this report is to review the advantages of skull base approach in our cases and suggest some indications. We experienced 20 cases of skull base surgery by a team approach consisting of a neurosurgeon and plastic surgeon. The surgical approach were supraorbital osteotomy(5 case), orbitozygomatic osteotomy(8 case), orbitozygomaticoglenoid osteotomy (5 case ) and orbitozygomaticoglenoidocondylar osteotomy (2 case). In our experience, these approaches provided excellent exposure of the lesion, direct access to lesions and minimal brain retraction thereby better outcome.

Exophthalmos in Chronic Epidural Hematoma: Case Report

A case of chronic epidural hematoma in the left frontal region is presented. The patient presented with a unique neurologic sign, exophthalmos, which was not a result of the injury but of in-growth of granulation tissue of the hematoma capsule into the orbit through the orbital roof defect. The time interval between head injury and the operation was about 25 years. Our case represent the second most longest time interval among the reviewed literatures.

A surgical correction of the isolated craniosynostosis

No abstract available.