An octyl-2-cyanoacrylate formulation speeds healing of partial-thickness wounds.

BACKGROUND: Occlusive dressings have been known to accelerate the rate of healing. Every year new dressings are being introduced in the marketplace. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new octyl-2-cyanoacrylate liquid dressing as compared to two over-the-counter bandages on partial-thickness wounds. Performance parameters were epithelialization, erythema, scab formation, material adherence, hemostasis, and infection. METHOD: Eight pigs with a total of 645 partial-thickness wounds were assigned to one of the following treatments: liquid dressing, standard bandage, hydrocolloid bandage, or untreated air exposed. RESULT: The liquid bandage enhanced the rate of epithelialization and was the only treatment to provide complete hemostasis, reduced scab formation, and did not induce an irritant response (erythema) or infection. CONCLUSION: The liquid bandage is an easy to use material that stops bleeding (instantaneous hemostasis) while enhancing healing of partial-thickness wounds.

Early debridement of second-degree burn wounds enhances the rate of epithelization--an animal model to evaluate burn wound therapies.

The purpose of this study was to examine the rate of epithelization of second-degree burn wounds with use of two debridement times (early versus late). Burn wounds were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups: (1) control, no debridement, (2) early debridement at 24 hours after burning, or (3) late debridement at 96 hours after burning. Wounds from each treatment group were harvested, incubated to allow separation of the dermis and epidermis, and then examined macroscopically for complete epithelization. On day 7 after burning, the percentage of burn wounds completely epithelized was as follows: nondebrided, 41%, 24-hour early debridement, 75%, and 96-hour late debridement, 22%. Burn wounds that were excised 24 hours after burning enhanced the rate of healing as compared to 96 hour and nondebrided burn wounds.

The effect of electrical stimulation on the number of mast cells in healing wounds.

Many cutaneous disorders are associated with activation or increased numbers of mast cells. Electrical stimulation has been shown to be effective in treating many of these disorders. This study is designed to examine the effect of electrical stimulation on mast cells in acute wounds. Four pathogen-free pigs received 20 wounds, each of which was subjected to biopsy at various times after wounding. Half of the wounds were treated with electrical stimulation and the other half were treated with a sham electrode. The biopsy specimens were fixed in Carnoy's medium and stained with alcian blue and Nuclear Fast Red. Mast cells from both sets of wounds were counted and analyzed. Highly significant reductions in the number of mast cells were seen with electrical stimulation on days 1 and 2 compared with nonstimulated control wounds. Electron microscopy was performed to compare the stimulated and control mast cells for characteristic features in morphology, location, and evidence of degranulation. Electrical stimulation did not appear to induce degranulation. The ability of electrical stimulation to decrease the number of mast cells may be related to a reduction of either proliferation or migration of these cells and may prove to be a valuable therapeutic technique.