Comparison of primary and delayed wound closure of dog-bite wounds.

BACKGROUND: Primary bite wound suturing in the emergency department remains controversial in some cases. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a study to investigate the infection rate and cosmetic appearance between primary wound closure and delayed wound closure in dog bite wounds in humans. METHODS: All patients with bite wounds were treated with oral antibiotic medications. We adopted a randomized cohort study, dividing the patients who needed wound closure into two groups: 60 patients for primary closure, and 60 patients for delayed closure, and compared the infection rate and wound cosmetic appearance scores. RESULTS: In the primary closure group, four people (6.7%) developed a wound infection without systemic infection. In the delayed closure group, three people (5%) developed a wound infection (p = 0.093), but there were not any patients that developed a systemic infection. Thirty-three patients (55%) in the primary closure group had optimal cosmetic scores, whereas 20 patients (33.3%) in the delayed closure group had optimal cosmetic scores (p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Although primary wound closure for dog bites may be associated with a higher infection rate, the cosmetic appearance after primary closure was still acceptable.

[A new embolic material: super absorbent polymer (SAP) microsphere and its embolic effects].

SAP-Microsphere (sodium acrylic acid-vinyl alcohol copolymer) has the ability to absorb fluids within a few minutes and increase its diameter. Its diameter can also be calibrated. The diameters in ionic contrast material and human serum are 2.1 and 3.5 times larger, respectively, than the original size. It can pass through a microcatheter with an ionic contrast material, and swells at the occluding point into the desired size. It can be recognized under fluoroscopy due to its absorption of contrast material. A total of 10 rabbit kidney embolizations were done followed by resection in 1-14 weeks. Recanalization was absent in all cases. No adhesion to the perirenal tissue was found. Limited reactive change in endothelial cells was found at one week. No changes in the smooth muscle layer were found at any time during the study. Limited infiltration of neutrophil cells was found in perivascular tissue within a period of one week. SAP-Microspheres maintained their spherical shape during a 14-week period. Extensive fibrosis and calcification were found after 4 weeks. SAP-Microspheres are promising as an embolic agent to obtain satisfactory results of embolization therapy.