title: Optimized mesh expansion of composite skin grafts in rats treated with direct current.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum autoepidermal and allodermal expansion ratio of each component of a meshed composite skin graft (MCSG) that would lead to successful healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used as hosts of the MCSG and donors of autologous tissue. Male ACI rats were used as donors of allodermis. MCSGs with open meshed area (autoepidermal/allodermal) of 9:1/1.5:1, 9:1/3:1, 9:1/6:1, or 6:1/6:1 were applied to full-thickness skin defects and treated with a silver nylon dressing (SN) or SN with direct current (DC). Wound size, hair regrowth, and thickness of dermal layer were evaluated at 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MCSGs of 9:1/1.5:1, 9:1/3:1, and 6:1/6:1 mesh ratios healed completely within 3 months with no difference in wound size between SN dressing groups or DC-treated groups. Application of DC reduced MCSG contraction and stimulated regrowth of hair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fresh autoepidermis can be expanded 6:1 on a 6:1 allodermis or 9:1 on a 3:1 allodermis and achieve successful wound healing.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-6315, USA.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Matylevich
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Pruitt
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Goodwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004560:Electricity; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011912:Rats, Inbred ACI; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000473:pathology; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*